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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 116 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 took cover from the thunder ________________.
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  4. The light ________________ burned out.
  5. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  6. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  7. What do you think of the new ________________?
  8. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  11. The ________________ went through the wall.
  12. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  13. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  14. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  15. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  16. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  17. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  18. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  19. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  22. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  23. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  24. He's taking a ________________ right now.

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

Answer key

  1. shower — rain
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. root — the cause
  4. bulb — for light
  5. deal — to handle
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. root — of a plant
  9. bulb — for light
  10. spring — a coil
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. deal — a big deal
  13. root — of a word
  14. net — in sport
  15. spring — the season
  16. deal — an agreement
  17. net — after costs
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. net — for catching
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. shower — a meteor shower
  22. spring — of water
  23. nail — on a finger
  24. shower — to wash

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