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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: root · staff · deal · bore · pop · lie · fine · pitcher

  1. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  2. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  4. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  5. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  6. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  7. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  8. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  9. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  10. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  11. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  12. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  13. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  14. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  15. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  16. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  17. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  18. You don't need to ________________ round.
  19. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  20. We're almost out of ________________.
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  23. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  24. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to tire
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. deal — a big deal
  4. fine — a penalty
  5. root — of a word
  6. deal — to handle
  7. bore — to drill
  8. staff — a stick
  9. bore — gave birth
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. lie — to recline
  12. fine — high quality
  13. staff — employees
  14. root — the cause
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. deal — an agreement
  17. pop — music
  18. pop — to visit
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. pop — soda
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. fine — all right
  23. root — of a plant
  24. staff — employees

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