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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. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  6. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  7. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  8. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  9. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  10. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  13. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  14. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  15. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  16. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  17. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  18. My mare is ________________ in color.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  21. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  22. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  23. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  24. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.

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

Answer key

  1. pound — a weight
  2. bulb — for light
  3. jam — a tight spot
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. jam — in traffic
  6. pass — to succeed
  7. toast — the most admired
  8. root — the cause
  9. branch — of a bank
  10. toast — bread
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. branch — of a tree
  13. root — of a plant
  14. branch — a division
  15. toast — a drink to someone
  16. root — of a word
  17. bay — to keep at bay
  18. bay — a horse colour
  19. bulb — for light
  20. pound — to hit hard
  21. jam — to spread on bread
  22. bay — a part of the sea
  23. pass — a permit
  24. pound — for dogs

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