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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. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  3. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  6. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  7. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  8. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. Have you settled on a ________________?
  11. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  12. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  13. I've got to change the light ________________.
  14. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  15. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  16. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  17. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  18. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  19. He is an ace ________________.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  24. Fill up this ________________ with water.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. jam — to spread on bread
  3. root — of a plant
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. mine — an explosive
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. root — the cause
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. suit — in cards
  10. date — on the calendar
  11. jam — a tight spot
  12. mine — for digging
  13. bulb — for light
  14. date — on the calendar
  15. date — the fruit
  16. calf — of the leg
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. jam — in traffic
  19. pitcher — in baseball
  20. bulb — for light
  21. mine — belonging to me
  22. suit — to fit
  23. root — of a word
  24. pitcher — a jug

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