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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.

Make a worksheet

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: net · wax · spring · root · bowl · toast · present · bulb

  1. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  4. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  7. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  8. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  9. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  10. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  11. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  12. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  13. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  14. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  15. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  16. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  19. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  22. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  23. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  24. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — in the ear
  2. root — of a plant
  3. toast — a drink to someone
  4. net — after costs
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. present — there
  7. net — for catching
  8. toast — the most admired
  9. root — of a word
  10. bowl — a football final
  11. bowl — a dish
  12. spring — the season
  13. net — in sport
  14. spring — of water
  15. spring — a coil
  16. wax — to grow
  17. bulb — for light
  18. toast — bread
  19. present — a gift
  20. bulb — for light
  21. root — the cause
  22. present — the time now
  23. bowl — to roll
  24. wax — for sculpting

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