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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 were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  4. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  5. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  6. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  15. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  18. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  19. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  22. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  23. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  24. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. root — of a plant
  3. root — of a word
  4. vault — an arched ceiling
  5. bat — in an idiom
  6. bat — for baseball
  7. can — to be able to
  8. vault — a safe
  9. bulb — for light
  10. lash — to lash out
  11. can — a tin
  12. bulb — for light
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. rock — to move gently
  15. wound — past of 'wind'
  16. can — a tin
  17. lash — a whip stroke
  18. vault — in gymnastics
  19. lash — an eyelash
  20. rock — music
  21. root — the cause
  22. bat — the animal
  23. wound — an injury
  24. wound — an injury

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