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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. That was ________________ to happen.
  2. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  3. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  4. We're on a ________________ here.
  5. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  6. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  7. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  8. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  9. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  10. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  11. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  12. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  13. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  14. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  15. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  16. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  17. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  18. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  19. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  20. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  21. When was this ________________ built?
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  24. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — certain
  2. root — the cause
  3. staff — employees
  4. roll — on a roll
  5. shower — a meteor shower
  6. bound — tied together
  7. root — of a plant
  8. bore — to drill
  9. shower — to wash
  10. temple — side of the head
  11. suit — clothes
  12. bore — to tire
  13. shower — rain
  14. bore — gave birth
  15. roll — a cake
  16. suit — in cards
  17. roll — a list
  18. root — of a word
  19. bound — obliged
  20. staff — a stick
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. suit — to fit
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. staff — employees

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