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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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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: bulb · mouse · staff · drill · root · mug · spell · court

  1. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  4. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  5. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  6. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  7. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  10. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  13. The ball is in your ________________.
  14. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  15. How do you ________________ your surname?
  16. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  17. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  18. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  21. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  22. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  23. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  24. I've got to change the light ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a face
  2. root — of a plant
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. court — of a king
  5. root — the cause
  6. mouse — for a computer
  7. drill — the tool
  8. mug — to rob
  9. drill — a practice
  10. mug — a cup
  11. bulb — for light
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. court — for sport
  14. staff — employees
  15. spell — letters
  16. root — of a word
  17. court — of law
  18. spell — magic
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. spell — a short time
  21. staff — employees
  22. staff — a stick
  23. drill — army training
  24. bulb — for light

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