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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: snap · lean · mouse · fine · spring · bear · root · rock

  1. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  4. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  5. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  6. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  7. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  8. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  9. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  10. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  14. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  15. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  16. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  17. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  18. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  19. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  20. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  21. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  22. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  23. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  24. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. rock — a stone
  3. fine — high quality
  4. snap — to snap out of it
  5. bear — the animal
  6. lean — to bend
  7. root — of a word
  8. spring — of water
  9. spring — the season
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. rock — music
  13. spring — a coil
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. fine — all right
  16. root — of a plant
  17. root — the cause
  18. fine — a penalty
  19. mouse — for a computer
  20. bear — to put up with
  21. snap — to speak sharply
  22. lean — thin
  23. snap — to click
  24. lean — to rest against

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