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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. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  6. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  9. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  10. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  11. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  12. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  13. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  16. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  17. We're on a ________________ here.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  21. When was this ________________ built?
  22. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.

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

Answer key

  1. root — the cause
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. mug — a cup
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. rock — a stone
  8. bore — to drill
  9. stick — to attach or keep to
  10. roll — a list
  11. temple — side of the head
  12. roll — a cake
  13. bore — to tire
  14. bulb — for light
  15. mug — a face
  16. stick — a piece of wood
  17. roll — on a roll
  18. mug — to rob
  19. bulb — for light
  20. bore — gave birth
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. root — of a word
  23. rock — music
  24. root — of a plant

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