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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. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  2. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  3. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  4. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  7. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  8. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  9. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. Have you found your soul ________________?
  12. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  13. Where did you ________________ them?
  14. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  19. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  20. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  21. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  22. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  23. The light ________________ burned out.
  24. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mate — to breed
  2. rock — music
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. mug — a face
  5. bulb — for light
  6. root — of a word
  7. root — the cause
  8. fan — to cool the air
  9. bank — for money
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. mate — a partner
  12. mug — a cup
  13. mug — to rob
  14. jam — a tight spot
  15. rock — a stone
  16. jam — in traffic
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. root — of a plant
  20. rock — to move gently
  21. mate — a friend
  22. bank — for money
  23. bulb — for light
  24. bank — of a river

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