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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. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  2. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  3. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  4. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  5. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  6. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  7. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  8. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  9. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  10. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  11. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  12. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  13. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  14. It's one o'clock ________________.
  15. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  16. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  17. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  18. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  19. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  20. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  21. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  22. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  23. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  24. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.

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

Answer key

  1. root — the cause
  2. bore — gave birth
  3. root — of a plant
  4. branch — of a tree
  5. fork — a garden tool
  6. degree — an amount
  7. branch — of a bank
  8. root — of a word
  9. fork — in a road
  10. sharp — with an edge
  11. bore — to tire
  12. bank — for money
  13. degree — from a university
  14. sharp — exactly
  15. bank — of a river
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. sharp — clever
  18. hide — animal skin
  19. bank — for money
  20. fork — to eat with
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. bore — to drill
  23. branch — a division
  24. degree — temperature

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