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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: wax · lie · mouse · can · drill · field · bore · root

  1. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  2. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  3. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  4. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  5. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  6. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  9. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  10. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  13. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  16. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  17. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  18. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  19. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  20. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  21. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  22. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  23. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  24. The moon will ________________ and wane.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a plant
  2. bore — to drill
  3. bore — to tire
  4. root — the cause
  5. mouse — for a computer
  6. field — a subject
  7. can — a tin
  8. wax — in the ear
  9. drill — army training
  10. field — for sport
  11. can — a tin
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. can — to be able to
  15. field — farmland
  16. root — of a word
  17. drill — the tool
  18. bore — gave birth
  19. drill — a practice
  20. lie — to recline
  21. wax — for sculpting
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. wax — to grow

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