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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. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  2. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  3. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  7. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  13. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  14. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. Did you ________________ the button?
  17. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  18. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  19. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  20. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  21. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to tire
  2. ruler — a monarch
  3. bore — to drill
  4. rock — a stone
  5. bulb — for light
  6. root — of a plant
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. current — of water
  9. bore — gave birth
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. current — happening now
  12. press — newspapers
  13. root — of a word
  14. file — a tool
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. press — to push
  17. root — the cause
  18. press — a publisher
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. file — a line of people
  21. file — a document
  22. bulb — for light
  23. current — electric
  24. rock — music

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