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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 ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  2. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  3. When will it ________________ you to start?
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  6. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  7. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  8. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  11. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  12. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  13. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  14. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  15. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. How do you ________________ your surname?
  18. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  19. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  20. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  21. I'll be taking the ________________.
  22. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a plant
  2. spell — magic
  3. suit — to fit
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. rush — hurry
  6. bear — to put up with
  7. bear — the animal
  8. tube — in a tire
  9. can — to be able to
  10. dip — a sauce
  11. rush — to hurry
  12. spell — a short time
  13. dip — to sink
  14. tube — a container
  15. bear — the animal
  16. can — a tin
  17. spell — letters
  18. root — the cause
  19. suit — clothes
  20. dip — to dunk
  21. tube — the underground
  22. root — of a word
  23. suit — in cards
  24. can — a tin

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