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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: drill · fan · pound · bulb · toast · bound · wave · root

  1. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  4. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  5. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  6. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  7. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  8. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  9. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  10. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  11. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  12. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  13. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  14. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  15. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  16. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  19. That was ________________ to happen.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  24. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — army training
  2. bulb — for light
  3. toast — bread
  4. pound — for dogs
  5. root — of a word
  6. toast — the most admired
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. wave — of the sea
  9. pound — a weight
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. bound — tied together
  12. drill — the tool
  13. root — of a plant
  14. bulb — of a plant
  15. drill — a practice
  16. pound — to hit hard
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. wave — a sudden rise
  19. bound — certain
  20. bound — obliged
  21. wave — with your hand
  22. bulb — for light
  23. toast — a drink to someone
  24. root — the cause

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