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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. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  2. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  3. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  4. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. Have you found your soul ________________?
  7. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  8. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  9. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  10. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  13. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  14. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  15. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  18. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  19. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. I'll be taking the ________________.
  24. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — to handle
  2. tube — a container
  3. dip — to dunk
  4. tube — in a tire
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. mate — a partner
  7. wound — an injury
  8. deal — a big deal
  9. mate — a friend
  10. deal — an agreement
  11. can — a tin
  12. dip — a sauce
  13. wound — an injury
  14. wound — past of 'wind'
  15. dip — to sink
  16. rush — hurry
  17. root — of a word
  18. root — the cause
  19. root — of a plant
  20. can — to be able to
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. can — a tin
  23. tube — the underground
  24. mate — to breed

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