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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.

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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: pass · race · bulb · coach · root · bank · calf · mine

  1. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  3. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  4. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  7. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  8. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  9. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  10. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  11. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  14. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  15. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  16. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  17. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  20. Have you met the new head ________________?
  21. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  22. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. root — the cause
  3. calf — of the leg
  4. bank — for money
  5. bulb — for light
  6. mine — for digging
  7. pass — to succeed
  8. mine — belonging to me
  9. root — of a plant
  10. race — humankind
  11. coach — pulled by horses
  12. pass — a permit
  13. bank — of a river
  14. mine — an explosive
  15. race — the arms race
  16. bank — for money
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. bulb — for light
  19. pass — to spend time
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. root — of a word
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. race — a contest

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