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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. That must've been a ________________.
  3. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  4. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  7. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  8. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  9. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  10. My mare is ________________ in color.
  11. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  12. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. Did you ________________ the meat?
  15. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  16. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  17. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  20. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  23. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  24. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.

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

Answer key

  1. root — the cause
  2. rush — a thrill
  3. band — a rubber band
  4. rush — hurry
  5. current — electric
  6. season — of the year
  7. bank — for money
  8. bay — to keep at bay
  9. band — a ring
  10. bay — a horse colour
  11. chest — of your body
  12. bay — a part of the sea
  13. current — of water
  14. season — to add flavour
  15. band — a music group
  16. chest — a box
  17. bank — for money
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. bank — of a river
  20. root — of a plant
  21. current — happening now
  22. chest — of your body
  23. season — in sport
  24. root — of a word

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