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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. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  2. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  3. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  4. We're almost out of ________________.
  5. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  6. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  7. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  8. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  9. You don't need to ________________ round.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  14. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  17. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  20. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  23. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  24. He is an ace ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a plant
  2. rush — to hurry
  3. bore — to tire
  4. pop — soda
  5. root — of a word
  6. branch — of a bank
  7. branch — a division
  8. bore — gave birth
  9. pop — to visit
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. root — the cause
  14. pop — music
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. racket — for tennis
  18. rush — hurry
  19. racket — a loud noise
  20. bore — to drill
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. branch — of a tree
  24. pitcher — in baseball

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