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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: bulb · root · plane · mug · cabinet · march · club · vault

  1. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  2. Where did you ________________ them?
  3. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  4. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  5. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  6. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  7. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  8. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  9. The ________________ took off on time.
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  13. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  17. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  18. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  19. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  20. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  21. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  22. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  23. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  24. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. root — the cause
  2. mug — to rob
  3. bulb — of a plant
  4. mug — a cup
  5. plane — in geometry
  6. march — music
  7. root — of a plant
  8. march — the month
  9. plane — an aircraft
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. bulb — for light
  12. club — for golf
  13. vault — in gymnastics
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. bulb — for light
  16. vault — a safe
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. club — a group
  19. mug — a face
  20. vault — an arched ceiling
  21. plane — a tool
  22. root — of a word
  23. club — for dancing
  24. march — the month

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