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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. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  3. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  4. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  5. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  6. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  7. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  8. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  9. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  10. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  11. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  12. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  15. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  16. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  17. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  18. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  19. I've got to change the light ________________.
  20. Did you ________________ the meat?
  21. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  22. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  23. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  24. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. ruler — a monarch
  3. march — the month
  4. root — of a word
  5. march — the month
  6. stem — a stem cell
  7. march — music
  8. fan — to cool the air
  9. bulb — of a plant
  10. season — of the year
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. bulb — for light
  14. prune — the fruit
  15. stem — of a plant
  16. prune — to trim
  17. stem — to come from
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. bulb — for light
  20. season — to add flavour
  21. prune — to trim
  22. season — in sport
  23. root — of a plant
  24. root — the cause

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