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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. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  3. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. False peace will not ________________.
  8. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  9. Don't do anything ________________.
  10. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  11. That was ________________ to happen.
  12. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  15. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  16. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  17. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  18. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  19. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  20. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  21. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  24. We took cover from the thunder ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. root — the cause
  2. mug — a cup
  3. shower — a meteor shower
  4. mug — to rob
  5. bound — tied together
  6. bound — obliged
  7. last — to go on
  8. root — of a plant
  9. rash — hasty
  10. rash — a series
  11. bound — certain
  12. trunk — of a car
  13. suit — to fit
  14. shower — to wash
  15. rash — on the skin
  16. root — of a word
  17. suit — in cards
  18. suit — clothes
  19. trunk — of an elephant
  20. trunk — of a tree
  21. last — final
  22. mug — a face
  23. last — finally
  24. shower — rain

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