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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: dip · bulb · chip · row · swing · root · toast · wound

  1. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  2. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  3. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  4. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  5. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  6. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  7. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  8. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  9. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  10. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  11. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  12. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  13. I've got to change the light ________________.
  14. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  15. David sat on the ________________.
  16. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  17. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  18. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  19. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  20. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  21. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  22. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  23. The light ________________ burned out.
  24. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — a sauce
  2. chip — in a computer
  3. bulb — of a plant
  4. toast — a drink to someone
  5. dip — to sink
  6. swing — in golf
  7. root — of a plant
  8. root — the cause
  9. wound — an injury
  10. row — a line
  11. wound — past of 'wind'
  12. row — to paddle
  13. bulb — for light
  14. root — of a word
  15. swing — to play on
  16. row — a quarrel
  17. wound — an injury
  18. toast — the most admired
  19. dip — to dunk
  20. chip — to eat
  21. toast — bread
  22. chip — for betting
  23. bulb — for light
  24. swing — music

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