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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. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  2. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  3. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  4. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  5. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  6. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. That was ________________ to happen.
  10. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  11. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  12. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  13. When was this ________________ built?
  14. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  17. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  18. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  19. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  24. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — of a plant
  2. suit — in cards
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. bass — low music
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. fan — to cool the air
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. rock — music
  9. bound — certain
  10. root — the cause
  11. temple — side of the head
  12. bass — the instrument
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. root — of a plant
  15. rock — a stone
  16. bass — the fish
  17. root — of a word
  18. bound — obliged
  19. suit — clothes
  20. bulb — for light
  21. bulb — for light
  22. suit — to fit
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. bound — tied together

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