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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 116 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. The light ________________ burned out.
  2. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  4. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  5. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  8. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  9. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  10. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  11. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  12. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  13. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  14. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  15. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  16. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  17. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  18. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  19. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  20. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  21. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  22. I've got to change the light ________________.
  23. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  24. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. mouse — for a computer
  4. wax — in the ear
  5. bank — for money
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. mark — to pay attention
  8. root — of a plant
  9. mine — for digging
  10. bank — of a river
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. mine — an explosive
  13. root — of a word
  14. bank — for money
  15. wax — to grow
  16. ruler — a monarch
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. mark — a grade
  19. mark — a trace
  20. wax — for sculpting
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. bulb — for light
  23. root — the cause
  24. mine — belonging to me

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