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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
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: rash · root · ball · bulb · chair · stick · pitcher · nail

  1. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  2. The King held a masked ________________.
  3. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  4. Don't do anything ________________.
  5. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  6. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  7. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  8. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  9. The ________________ went through the wall.
  10. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  11. He is an ace ________________.
  12. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  13. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  14. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  15. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  16. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  21. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  22. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  23. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  24. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a plant
  2. ball — a dance
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. rash — hasty
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. nail — on a finger
  7. root — the cause
  8. chair — to sit on
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. pitcher — in baseball
  12. ball — a great time
  13. stick — a piece of wood
  14. root — of a word
  15. rash — on the skin
  16. stick — to attach or keep to
  17. bulb — for light
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. bulb — for light
  20. chair — a professorship
  21. rash — a series
  22. ball — a round shape
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. chair — a leader

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