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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. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  2. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  3. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  4. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  5. It's one o'clock ________________.
  6. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  7. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  8. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  9. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  10. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  11. When are we going to ________________?
  12. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  13. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  16. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  17. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  18. That was ________________ to happen.
  19. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  22. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a plant
  2. root — of a word
  3. bore — to drill
  4. cap — a hat
  5. sharp — exactly
  6. bore — gave birth
  7. wake — to stop sleeping
  8. sharp — clever
  9. bore — to tire
  10. root — the cause
  11. land — to come down
  12. cap — a lid
  13. wake — before a funeral
  14. key — in music
  15. land — a country
  16. wake — a trail
  17. key — for a lock
  18. bound — certain
  19. cap — of ice
  20. bound — obliged
  21. sharp — with an edge
  22. land — ground
  23. key — the most important part
  24. bound — tied together

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