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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 116 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 soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  2. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  3. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  4. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. When will it ________________ you to start?
  9. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  10. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  16. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  17. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  18. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  19. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  20. I'll be taking the ________________.
  21. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  22. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  23. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — army training
  2. object — a thing
  3. tube — in a tire
  4. root — of a plant
  5. suit — clothes
  6. root — the cause
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. suit — to fit
  9. tube — a container
  10. bound — tied together
  11. rush — hurry
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. root — of a word
  14. bound — certain
  15. drill — a practice
  16. bound — obliged
  17. object — to protest
  18. hand — in cards
  19. hand — part of the body
  20. tube — the underground
  21. drill — the tool
  22. object — an aim
  23. hand — help
  24. suit — in cards

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