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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. My mare is ________________ in color.
  2. I'll be taking the ________________.
  3. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  4. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  5. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  6. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  7. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  8. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  9. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  10. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  11. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  14. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  17. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  18. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  19. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  20. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  21. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  22. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — a horse colour
  2. tube — the underground
  3. root — of a word
  4. stick — a piece of wood
  5. lean — thin
  6. bowl — a football final
  7. root — the cause
  8. tube — in a tire
  9. lean — to bend
  10. mark — a grade
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. bulb — for light
  13. root — of a plant
  14. mark — to pay attention
  15. bulb — for light
  16. bay — a part of the sea
  17. bay — to keep at bay
  18. lean — to rest against
  19. mark — a trace
  20. tube — a container
  21. stick — to attach or keep to
  22. bowl — to roll
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. bowl — a dish

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