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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
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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: root · temple · bulb · lash · mate · cabinet · rash · bark

  1. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  5. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  6. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  7. When was this ________________ built?
  8. What do you think of the new ________________?
  9. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. Have you found your soul ________________?
  12. Don't do anything ________________.
  13. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  14. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  15. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  16. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  19. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  20. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  21. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. mate — to breed
  2. root — of a plant
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. bark — to shout
  5. rash — a series
  6. bark — of a tree
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. lash — a whip stroke
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. mate — a partner
  12. rash — hasty
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. temple — side of the head
  15. root — the cause
  16. root — of a word
  17. bulb — for light
  18. rash — on the skin
  19. lash — to lash out
  20. bark — a dog's sound
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. bulb — for light
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  24. mate — a friend

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