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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: dip · jam · ground · bulb · file · bank · root · lash

  1. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  2. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  3. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  4. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  5. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  6. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  7. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  8. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  9. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  10. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  11. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  12. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  13. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  14. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  19. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  20. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  21. There's no middle ________________.
  22. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  23. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  24. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — a tight spot
  2. root — the cause
  3. lash — a whip stroke
  4. jam — to spread on bread
  5. file — a document
  6. jam — in traffic
  7. ground — the earth
  8. lash — an eyelash
  9. bulb — of a plant
  10. dip — to dunk
  11. ground — crushed
  12. file — a tool
  13. dip — to sink
  14. bank — for money
  15. bulb — for light
  16. lash — to lash out
  17. bulb — for light
  18. root — of a word
  19. dip — a sauce
  20. file — a line of people
  21. ground — a position
  22. bank — for money
  23. root — of a plant
  24. bank — of a river

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