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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 120 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.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: bulb · fan · drill · dip · object · root

  1. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  2. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  3. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  4. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  7. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  8. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  9. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  10. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  11. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  12. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  13. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  16. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  17. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — a sauce
  2. drill — a practice
  3. root — of a word
  4. drill — army training
  5. bulb — for light
  6. object — a thing
  7. dip — to dunk
  8. fan — to cool the air
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. root — of a plant
  12. root — the cause
  13. object — an aim
  14. bulb — for light
  15. dip — to sink
  16. drill — the tool
  17. object — to protest
  18. bulb — of a plant

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