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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.

Words on the sheet
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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 · temple · spring · stem · lie · toast · ball · root

  1. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  4. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  5. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  6. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  7. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  8. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  9. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  10. When was this ________________ built?
  11. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  12. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  13. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  14. The King held a masked ________________.
  15. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  16. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  17. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  20. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  21. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  22. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  23. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  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 — the cause
  2. root — of a plant
  3. toast — the most admired
  4. spring — a coil
  5. stem — to come from
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. spring — the season
  8. ball — a great time
  9. stem — of a plant
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. toast — bread
  12. toast — a drink to someone
  13. ball — a round shape
  14. ball — a dance
  15. bowl — a football final
  16. stem — a stem cell
  17. bowl — a dish
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. temple — side of the head
  20. spring — of water
  21. bowl — to roll
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. lie — to recline
  24. root — of a word

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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