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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 need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  4. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. Have you found your soul ________________?
  9. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  10. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  11. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  14. The ________________ went through the wall.
  15. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  16. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  17. He is an ace ________________.
  18. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  21. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  22. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  23. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  24. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.

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

Answer key

  1. root — the cause
  2. can — a tin
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. nail — on a finger
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. can — a tin
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. mate — a partner
  9. face — to point toward
  10. mate — to breed
  11. root — of a plant
  12. can — to be able to
  13. face — part of the head
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. bank — of a river
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. pitcher — in baseball
  18. mate — a friend
  19. rush — hurry
  20. bank — for money
  21. bank — for money
  22. root — of a word
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. face — to confront

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