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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. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  2. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  3. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  4. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  5. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  6. I'll be taking the ________________.
  7. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  8. That must've been a ________________.
  9. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  10. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  11. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  12. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  13. Where did you ________________ them?
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  18. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.

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

Answer key

  1. root — the cause
  2. net — for catching
  3. root — of a plant
  4. tube — a container
  5. root — of a word
  6. tube — the underground
  7. scale — size or range
  8. rush — a thrill
  9. scale — for weighing
  10. bass — low music
  11. scale — in music
  12. net — in sport
  13. mug — to rob
  14. bulb — for light
  15. bass — the instrument
  16. mug — a cup
  17. mug — a face
  18. net — after costs
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. bulb — for light
  21. bass — the fish
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. rush — hurry
  24. tube — in a tire

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