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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  2. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  7. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  8. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  9. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  10. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  11. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  12. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  13. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  14. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  15. What do you think of the new ________________?
  16. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  17. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  18. My father caught me by the ________________.
  19. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  20. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  21. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  22. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  23. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  24. A ________________ is just a dried plum.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. root — the cause
  2. vault — an arched ceiling
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. ruler — a monarch
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. clip — a video
  7. vault — a safe
  8. lean — to rest against
  9. root — of a word
  10. clip — to cut
  11. root — of a plant
  12. vault — in gymnastics
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. lean — thin
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. prune — to trim
  17. lean — to bend
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. prune — to trim
  20. clip — for paper
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. arm — a part of something
  24. prune — the fruit

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com