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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
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: bay · bound · root · craft · squash · bear · jam · tube

  1. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  2. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  3. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  4. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  5. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  6. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  7. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  8. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  9. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  10. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  11. I'll be taking the ________________.
  12. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  13. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  14. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  15. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  16. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  19. My mare is ________________ in color.
  20. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  21. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  22. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  23. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  24. Would you like some apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. bound — obliged
  2. craft — a skill
  3. bay — to keep at bay
  4. squash — the vegetable
  5. squash — the sport
  6. root — of a plant
  7. bear — to put up with
  8. jam — in traffic
  9. bound — tied together
  10. craft — a handicraft
  11. tube — the underground
  12. bay — a part of the sea
  13. jam — a tight spot
  14. tube — a container
  15. root — the cause
  16. craft — boats
  17. bound — certain
  18. bear — the animal
  19. bay — a horse colour
  20. bear — the animal
  21. squash — to crush
  22. root — of a word
  23. tube — in a tire
  24. jam — to spread on bread

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