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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
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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: snap · nail · pitcher · key · root · perch · toast · bulb

  1. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  4. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  5. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  6. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  7. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  8. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  9. He is an ace ________________.
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  13. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  16. The ________________ went through the wall.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  19. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  22. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  23. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  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. snap — to click
  2. root — of a plant
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. nail — on a finger
  6. snap — to snap out of it
  7. toast — the most admired
  8. root — the cause
  9. pitcher — in baseball
  10. key — in music
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. toast — a drink to someone
  14. toast — bread
  15. root — of a word
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. bulb — for light
  18. snap — to speak sharply
  19. perch — for a bird
  20. key — the most important part
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. key — for a lock
  23. perch — the fish
  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