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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 116 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. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  2. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  3. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  4. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  5. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  8. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  9. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  10. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  11. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  12. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  13. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  14. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  15. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  16. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  17. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. I've got to change the light ________________.
  20. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  21. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  22. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  23. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  24. He hit the ball with his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — of a plant
  2. lash — an eyelash
  3. lash — to lash out
  4. cap — of ice
  5. root — the cause
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. root — of a word
  8. racket — for tennis
  9. bark — a dog's sound
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. racket — a loud noise
  12. cap — a lid
  13. mouse — for a computer
  14. bark — to shout
  15. bark — of a tree
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. cap — a hat
  18. bulb — for light
  19. bulb — for light
  20. cabinet — a cupboard
  21. lash — a whip stroke
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. root — of a plant
  24. racket — for tennis

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