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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
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: dip · spell · bass · bear · rock · mouse · lie · root

  1. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  2. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  3. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  4. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  5. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  6. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  9. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  10. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  11. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  12. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  13. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  16. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  17. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  18. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  19. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  20. How do you ________________ your surname?
  21. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  22. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  23. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  24. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. root — of a word
  3. bass — the instrument
  4. bass — low music
  5. dip — to sink
  6. spell — a short time
  7. rock — a stone
  8. mouse — for a computer
  9. lie — to recline
  10. dip — a sauce
  11. root — the cause
  12. root — of a plant
  13. rock — to move gently
  14. rock — music
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. dip — to dunk
  19. spell — magic
  20. spell — letters
  21. bass — the fish
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. bear — to put up with
  24. bear — the animal

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