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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. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  3. When will it ________________ you to start?
  4. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  5. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  6. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  7. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  10. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  13. I've got to change the light ________________.
  14. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  15. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  16. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  19. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  20. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  21. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  22. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?

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

Answer key

  1. root — the cause
  2. root — of a word
  3. suit — to fit
  4. fall — the season
  5. deal — a big deal
  6. root — of a plant
  7. deal — to handle
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. branch — of a bank
  10. fall — to drop
  11. bulb — for light
  12. branch — a division
  13. bulb — for light
  14. deal — an agreement
  15. lash — an eyelash
  16. fall — to drop
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. branch — of a tree
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. lash — to lash out
  21. suit — in cards
  22. lash — a whip stroke
  23. suit — clothes
  24. fan — a supporter

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