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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. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  4. Have you settled on a ________________?
  5. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  6. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  7. The light ________________ burned out.
  8. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  9. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  12. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  18. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  19. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  20. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  21. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  22. I've got to change the light ________________.
  23. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  24. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wind — moving air
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. firm — decided
  4. date — on the calendar
  5. wind — moving air
  6. date — on the calendar
  7. bulb — for light
  8. root — of a plant
  9. root — of a word
  10. current — happening now
  11. root — the cause
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. current — of water
  14. ruler — a monarch
  15. current — electric
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. firm — steady
  18. stick — to attach or keep to
  19. firm — a company
  20. date — the fruit
  21. stick — a piece of wood
  22. bulb — for light
  23. wind — to turn a key
  24. stick — a piece of wood

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