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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: bowl · sharp · pop · root · suit · rash · drill · nail

  1. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  2. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  3. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  4. The ________________ went through the wall.
  5. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  6. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  7. Don't do anything ________________.
  8. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  9. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  10. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  11. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  12. It's one o'clock ________________.
  13. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  14. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  15. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  16. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  17. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  18. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  19. We're almost out of ________________.
  20. You don't need to ________________ round.
  21. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  22. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  23. When will it ________________ you to start?
  24. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a plant
  2. drill — the tool
  3. sharp — with an edge
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. bowl — a dish
  6. suit — in cards
  7. rash — hasty
  8. pop — music
  9. rash — on the skin
  10. drill — army training
  11. root — the cause
  12. sharp — exactly
  13. nail — on a finger
  14. rash — a series
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. bowl — to roll
  17. suit — clothes
  18. sharp — clever
  19. pop — soda
  20. pop — to visit
  21. bowl — a football final
  22. drill — a practice
  23. suit — to fit
  24. root — of a word

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