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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 need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  3. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  4. The light ________________ burned out.
  5. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  6. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  7. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  10. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  11. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  12. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  13. Don't do anything ________________.
  14. I'll be taking the ________________.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  24. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.

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

Answer key

  1. root — the cause
  2. tube — in a tire
  3. cue — for pool
  4. bulb — for light
  5. rash — on the skin
  6. cue — a hint
  7. bound — tied together
  8. bulb — for light
  9. object — an aim
  10. tube — a container
  11. object — a thing
  12. object — to protest
  13. rash — hasty
  14. tube — the underground
  15. current — electric
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. bound — certain
  18. cue — a signal
  19. current — happening now
  20. bound — obliged
  21. root — of a word
  22. current — of water
  23. root — of a plant
  24. rash — a series

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