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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. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  2. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  3. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  4. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  5. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  6. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  9. The ________________ went through the wall.
  10. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  13. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  14. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  15. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  16. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  17. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. The light ________________ burned out.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. hand — part of the body
  2. stick — a piece of wood
  3. hand — in cards
  4. capital — a big letter
  5. root — of a plant
  6. stick — a piece of wood
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. hand — help
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. root — the cause
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. stick — to attach or keep to
  13. capital — money
  14. root — of a word
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. nail — on a finger
  17. capital — a city
  18. suit — in cards
  19. suit — to fit
  20. bulb — for light
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. rush — hurry
  23. bulb — for light
  24. suit — clothes

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