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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: bass · bore · bulb · plane · staff · root · temple · hide

  1. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  2. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  3. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  4. The light ________________ burned out.
  5. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  8. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  9. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  10. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  11. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  12. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  13. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  14. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  15. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  16. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  17. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  18. The ________________ took off on time.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  21. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  22. When was this ________________ built?
  23. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  24. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a plant
  2. hide — to keep secret
  3. root — of a word
  4. bulb — for light
  5. staff — employees
  6. bulb — for light
  7. bore — gave birth
  8. hide — animal skin
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. staff — a stick
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. bore — to drill
  13. root — the cause
  14. temple — side of the head
  15. plane — in geometry
  16. plane — a tool
  17. bore — to tire
  18. plane — an aircraft
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. bass — the fish
  21. bass — the instrument
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. staff — employees
  24. bass — low music

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