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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: sharp · bulb · track · root · plane · spell · band · bass

  1. It's one o'clock ________________.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  4. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  5. The ________________ took off on time.
  6. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  7. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  8. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  9. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  10. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  11. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  12. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  16. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  17. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  18. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  19. How do you ________________ your surname?
  20. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  21. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  22. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  23. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  24. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — exactly
  2. bulb — for light
  3. plane — in geometry
  4. root — the cause
  5. plane — an aircraft
  6. band — a music group
  7. root — of a word
  8. track — a path
  9. plane — a tool
  10. band — a ring
  11. sharp — clever
  12. sharp — with an edge
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. bulb — for light
  15. bass — low music
  16. track — to keep track
  17. spell — magic
  18. bass — the fish
  19. spell — letters
  20. band — a rubber band
  21. spell — a short time
  22. root — of a plant
  23. bass — the instrument
  24. track — a song

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