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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. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  4. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  7. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  8. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  9. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  10. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  13. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  16. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  19. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  20. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  23. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  24. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. root — the cause
  2. can — a tin
  3. fork — a garden tool
  4. fork — to eat with
  5. bound — certain
  6. jam — to spread on bread
  7. mark — to pay attention
  8. bound — tied together
  9. foot — the bottom
  10. lean — to rest against
  11. mark — a grade
  12. foot — a measure
  13. foot — part of the body
  14. can — to be able to
  15. bound — obliged
  16. root — of a word
  17. mark — a trace
  18. jam — a tight spot
  19. lean — to bend
  20. fork — in a road
  21. can — a tin
  22. root — of a plant
  23. lean — thin
  24. jam — in traffic

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