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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 112 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 address the ________________ of the problem.
  2. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  3. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  8. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  9. How do you ________________ your surname?
  10. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  11. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  12. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  13. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  14. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  15. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  16. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  17. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  18. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  19. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  20. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  21. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  22. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  23. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. root — the cause
  2. spell — a short time
  3. rush — hurry
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. bore — to tire
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. root — of a plant
  8. bore — to drill
  9. spell — letters
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. march — the month
  13. stem — a stem cell
  14. fan — to cool the air
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. stem — to come from
  17. mouse — for a computer
  18. stem — of a plant
  19. root — of a word
  20. bore — gave birth
  21. march — the month
  22. spell — magic
  23. march — music
  24. rush — to hurry

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