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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 bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  3. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  4. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  5. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  6. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  7. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  8. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  9. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  12. That was ________________ to happen.
  13. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  14. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  15. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  16. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  17. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  18. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  19. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  20. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  21. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  22. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  23. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  24. How do you ________________ your surname?

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

Answer key

  1. jam — in traffic
  2. bank — for money
  3. bound — tied together
  4. spell — a short time
  5. drill — a practice
  6. toast — the most admired
  7. spell — magic
  8. root — of a plant
  9. drill — army training
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. root — the cause
  12. bound — certain
  13. rest — what's left
  14. bank — of a river
  15. toast — bread
  16. jam — a tight spot
  17. drill — the tool
  18. rest — a break
  19. bound — obliged
  20. bank — for money
  21. root — of a word
  22. toast — a drink to someone
  23. rest — what's left
  24. spell — letters

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