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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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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 · bulb · bound · wave · snap · mate · root · mark

  1. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  2. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  5. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  6. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  7. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  8. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  9. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  10. That was ________________ to happen.
  11. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  17. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  18. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  19. Have you found your soul ________________?
  20. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  21. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  22. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.

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

Answer key

  1. root — the cause
  2. net — for catching
  3. bound — obliged
  4. net — in sport
  5. bound — tied together
  6. root — of a word
  7. root — of a plant
  8. wave — with your hand
  9. mate — a friend
  10. bound — certain
  11. snap — to click
  12. bulb — for light
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. bulb — for light
  15. mark — a trace
  16. mate — to breed
  17. wave — of the sea
  18. mark — a grade
  19. mate — a partner
  20. net — after costs
  21. snap — to snap out of it
  22. snap — to speak sharply
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. wave — a sudden rise

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