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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: content · prune · root · key · can · fan · bulb · lie

  1. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  2. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  5. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  6. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  7. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  8. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  9. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  10. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  11. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  12. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  13. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  14. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  15. This piece is in a major ________________.
  16. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  21. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  22. I've got to change the light ________________.
  23. The light ________________ burned out.
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a plant
  2. content — happy
  3. can — to be able to
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. lie — to recline
  7. content — videos and posts
  8. prune — to trim
  9. root — of a word
  10. key — the most important part
  11. content — the amount
  12. key — for a lock
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. root — the cause
  15. key — in music
  16. prune — the fruit
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. prune — to trim
  19. can — a tin
  20. fan — to cool the air
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. bulb — for light
  23. bulb — for light
  24. can — a tin

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