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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 address the ________________ of the problem.
  2. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. He works in a ________________ mill.
  5. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  6. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  9. There's no middle ________________.
  10. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  13. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  14. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  15. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  16. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  17. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  18. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  19. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  20. She's very handy with a ________________.
  21. The King held a masked ________________.
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.

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

Answer key

  1. root — the cause
  2. root — of a word
  3. ball — a great time
  4. saw — the tool
  5. bowl — a football final
  6. cabinet — a cupboard
  7. bulb — for light
  8. bowl — a dish
  9. ground — a position
  10. bowl — to roll
  11. bulb — for light
  12. march — music
  13. march — the month
  14. ball — a round shape
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. march — the month
  17. root — of a plant
  18. saw — past of 'see'
  19. ground — crushed
  20. saw — the tool
  21. ball — a dance
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. ground — the earth

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