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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. The light ________________ burned out.
  2. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  3. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  4. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  5. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  8. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  9. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  10. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  15. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  18. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  19. When was this ________________ built?
  20. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  21. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  22. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  23. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  24. Do you need a ________________ with that?

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. root — the cause
  3. temple — side of the head
  4. net — in sport
  5. hand — part of the body
  6. bulb — for light
  7. fine — high quality
  8. net — after costs
  9. root — of a plant
  10. net — for catching
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. hand — in cards
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. fine — all right
  18. fine — a penalty
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. object — to protest
  21. object — an aim
  22. root — of a word
  23. object — a thing
  24. hand — help

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