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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: firm · pit · lash · saw · bulb · foot · root · nail

  1. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  2. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  3. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  4. The ________________ went through the wall.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  7. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  8. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  9. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  10. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  11. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  12. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  13. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  14. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  17. He works in a ________________ mill.
  18. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  19. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  20. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  21. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  22. She's very handy with a ________________.
  23. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  24. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — part of the body
  2. nail — on a finger
  3. root — the cause
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. bulb — for light
  6. bulb — of a plant
  7. lash — an eyelash
  8. lash — to lash out
  9. foot — a measure
  10. firm — decided
  11. pit — a fruit stone
  12. root — of a word
  13. pit — a hole
  14. firm — a company
  15. bulb — for light
  16. foot — the bottom
  17. saw — the tool
  18. firm — steady
  19. pit — in a race
  20. saw — past of 'see'
  21. root — of a plant
  22. saw — the tool
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. lash — a whip stroke

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