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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 120 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: root · spring · bowl · wake · deal · craft · mug · ground

  1. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  4. There's no middle ________________.
  5. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  6. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  7. Where did you ________________ them?
  8. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  9. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  10. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  11. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  12. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  13. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  14. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  15. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  18. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  19. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  20. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  21. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  22. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  23. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  24. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.

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

Answer key

  1. craft — a skill
  2. root — of a plant
  3. wake — a trail
  4. ground — a position
  5. bowl — a dish
  6. craft — boats
  7. mug — to rob
  8. root — the cause
  9. wake — before a funeral
  10. mug — a cup
  11. ground — the earth
  12. deal — to handle
  13. craft — a handicraft
  14. bowl — a football final
  15. deal — a big deal
  16. mug — a face
  17. spring — of water
  18. spring — the season
  19. wake — to stop sleeping
  20. spring — a coil
  21. root — of a word
  22. ground — crushed
  23. bowl — to roll
  24. deal — an agreement

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