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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 120 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. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  2. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  3. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  4. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  9. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  10. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  11. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. The King held a masked ________________.
  19. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  20. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  21. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  22. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  23. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  24. Where did you ________________ them?

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a word
  2. squash — the sport
  3. bore — to drill
  4. ball — a round shape
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. ball — a great time
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. root — the cause
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. fan — to cool the air
  11. bore — gave birth
  12. mug — a face
  13. root — of a plant
  14. bulb — for light
  15. bulb — for light
  16. squash — to crush
  17. mug — a cup
  18. ball — a dance
  19. bore — to tire
  20. snap — to snap out of it
  21. snap — to click
  22. snap — to speak sharply
  23. squash — the vegetable
  24. mug — to rob

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