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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.

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: wake · ruler · bulb · season · chip · root · drill · rash

  1. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  4. The light ________________ burned out.
  5. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  6. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  7. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. Don't do anything ________________.
  10. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  11. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  12. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  13. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  14. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  15. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  16. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  17. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  18. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  19. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  20. Did you ________________ the meat?
  21. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  22. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  23. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  24. I seem to be developing a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a word
  2. bulb — for light
  3. root — of a plant
  4. bulb — for light
  5. chip — in a computer
  6. wake — a trail
  7. season — in sport
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. rash — hasty
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. drill — the tool
  12. root — the cause
  13. ruler — a monarch
  14. wake — before a funeral
  15. chip — to eat
  16. drill — a practice
  17. wake — to stop sleeping
  18. chip — for betting
  19. drill — army training
  20. season — to add flavour
  21. season — of the year
  22. rash — a series
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. rash — on the skin

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