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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. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  2. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  3. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  4. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  5. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  6. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  7. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  8. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  9. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  12. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  13. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  14. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  15. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  16. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  17. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  18. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  19. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  20. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  21. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  22. I've got to change the light ________________.
  23. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  24. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — of the sea
  2. march — the month
  3. bulb — of a plant
  4. vault — an arched ceiling
  5. root — of a plant
  6. vault — a safe
  7. scale — in music
  8. stem — to come from
  9. wave — a sudden rise
  10. bulb — for light
  11. stem — a stem cell
  12. march — the month
  13. vault — in gymnastics
  14. wave — with your hand
  15. march — music
  16. scale — for weighing
  17. stem — of a plant
  18. toast — bread
  19. root — the cause
  20. toast — the most admired
  21. scale — size or range
  22. bulb — for light
  23. toast — a drink to someone
  24. root — of a word

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