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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: dip · bank · root · bass · stick · bound · content · fan

  1. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  2. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  3. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  4. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  5. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  6. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  7. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  8. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  9. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  10. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  11. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  12. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  13. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  14. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  15. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  16. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. That was ________________ to happen.
  19. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  20. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  21. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  22. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  23. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  24. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a plant
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. dip — to dunk
  4. stick — a piece of wood
  5. dip — a sauce
  6. bank — for money
  7. content — the amount
  8. fan — to cool the air
  9. root — the cause
  10. content — happy
  11. bank — for money
  12. bound — obliged
  13. bass — the instrument
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. bank — of a river
  16. stick — to attach or keep to
  17. bound — tied together
  18. bound — certain
  19. bass — the fish
  20. root — of a word
  21. bass — low music
  22. dip — to sink
  23. stick — a piece of wood
  24. content — videos and posts

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