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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. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  3. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  6. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  9. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  10. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  11. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  12. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  13. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. When was this ________________ built?
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  20. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  21. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  22. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  23. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  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. root — of a plant
  2. staff — employees
  3. cue — for pool
  4. bulb — for light
  5. file — a document
  6. staff — a stick
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. temple — side of the head
  9. file — a line of people
  10. file — a tool
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. squash — to crush
  13. cue — a signal
  14. bulb — for light
  15. squash — the vegetable
  16. rock — music
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. staff — employees
  20. root — of a word
  21. rock — a stone
  22. cue — a hint
  23. squash — the sport
  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