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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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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: season · root · firm · rock · pop · can · row · bound

  1. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. Did you ________________ the meat?
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  6. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  7. We're almost out of ________________.
  8. You don't need to ________________ round.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  11. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  12. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  13. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  14. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  15. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  16. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  17. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  20. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  24. I had a ________________ with my boss today.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a plant
  2. can — to be able to
  3. season — to add flavour
  4. can — a tin
  5. rock — to move gently
  6. root — the cause
  7. pop — soda
  8. pop — to visit
  9. can — a tin
  10. rock — a stone
  11. firm — steady
  12. pop — music
  13. season — of the year
  14. row — a line
  15. row — to paddle
  16. root — of a word
  17. bound — obliged
  18. rock — music
  19. firm — decided
  20. season — in sport
  21. bound — certain
  22. bound — tied together
  23. firm — a company
  24. row — a quarrel

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