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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. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  3. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  4. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  5. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  6. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  7. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  8. Did you ________________ the meat?
  9. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  10. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  13. The ________________ went through the wall.
  14. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  15. What do you think of the new ________________?
  16. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  17. He works in a ________________ mill.
  18. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  19. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  20. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  21. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  22. She's very handy with a ________________.
  23. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  24. He keeps ________________ of his days.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. root — of a word
  3. bore — gave birth
  4. bank — for money
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. cabinet — a cupboard
  7. root — of a plant
  8. season — to add flavour
  9. bank — of a river
  10. track — a song
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. bank — for money
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. saw — past of 'see'
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. bore — to tire
  17. saw — the tool
  18. season — in sport
  19. track — a path
  20. bore — to drill
  21. root — the cause
  22. saw — the tool
  23. season — of the year
  24. track — to keep track

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