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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. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  3. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. He works in a ________________ mill.
  7. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  8. She's very handy with a ________________.
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  11. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  12. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  15. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  16. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  17. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  20. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  24. The light ________________ burned out.

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

Answer key

  1. root — the cause
  2. pit — a hole
  3. capital — money
  4. can — to be able to
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. saw — the tool
  7. root — of a word
  8. saw — the tool
  9. bound — obliged
  10. board — a committee
  11. root — of a plant
  12. pit — in a race
  13. can — a tin
  14. bound — tied together
  15. board — a flat piece
  16. capital — a city
  17. pit — a fruit stone
  18. bulb — for light
  19. board — to get on
  20. capital — a big letter
  21. bound — certain
  22. can — a tin
  23. saw — past of 'see'
  24. bulb — for light

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