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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: bowl · tube · last · field · bulb · root · mark · foot

  1. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  2. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  3. I'll be taking the ________________.
  4. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  7. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  8. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  9. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  10. False peace will not ________________.
  11. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  12. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  13. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  14. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  15. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  18. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  19. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  22. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  23. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  24. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — part of the body
  2. root — the cause
  3. tube — the underground
  4. bowl — a football final
  5. bulb — for light
  6. root — of a plant
  7. tube — a container
  8. mark — a trace
  9. root — of a word
  10. last — to go on
  11. tube — in a tire
  12. field — farmland
  13. foot — a measure
  14. mark — to pay attention
  15. bowl — a dish
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. field — for sport
  18. field — a subject
  19. mark — a grade
  20. bulb — for light
  21. last — finally
  22. bowl — to roll
  23. last — final
  24. foot — the bottom

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