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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're almost out of ________________.
  2. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  3. You don't need to ________________ round.
  4. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  5. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  6. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  7. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  8. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  9. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  10. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  11. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  14. When was this ________________ built?
  15. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  16. I'll be taking the ________________.
  17. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  20. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  21. Have you met the new head ________________?
  22. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  23. The light ________________ burned out.
  24. This piece is in a major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — soda
  2. rule — to rule out
  3. pop — to visit
  4. root — the cause
  5. root — of a plant
  6. key — for a lock
  7. rule — government
  8. temple — side of the head
  9. root — of a word
  10. key — the most important part
  11. tube — in a tire
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. rule — a law
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. tube — the underground
  17. coach — pulled by horses
  18. bulb — for light
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. tube — a container
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. pop — music
  23. bulb — for light
  24. key — in music

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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