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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 124 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. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  2. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  3. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  4. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  8. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  11. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  12. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  13. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  14. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  15. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  16. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  17. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  18. He works in a ________________ mill.
  19. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  20. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  21. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  22. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  23. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  24. Should I buy a wireless ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. drill — army training
  2. root — the cause
  3. drill — a practice
  4. root — of a word
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. mark — a grade
  7. wound — an injury
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. saw — the tool
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. saw — past of 'see'
  12. root — of a plant
  13. wake — to stop sleeping
  14. wake — a trail
  15. wound — past of 'wind'
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. lie — to recline
  18. saw — the tool
  19. wound — an injury
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. wake — before a funeral
  22. mark — a trace
  23. drill — the tool
  24. mouse — for a computer

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