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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: ground · bulb · last · bound · root · mark · lean · suit

  1. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  2. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  3. When will it ________________ you to start?
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  6. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  7. That was ________________ to happen.
  8. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  9. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  10. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. There's no middle ________________.
  15. False peace will not ________________.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  19. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  20. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  21. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  22. I've got to change the light ________________.
  23. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  24. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — obliged
  2. ground — crushed
  3. suit — to fit
  4. suit — in cards
  5. lean — to bend
  6. mark — a trace
  7. bound — certain
  8. root — of a plant
  9. root — the cause
  10. lean — to rest against
  11. bulb — for light
  12. lean — thin
  13. bound — tied together
  14. ground — a position
  15. last — to go on
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. mark — a grade
  19. last — finally
  20. suit — clothes
  21. ground — the earth
  22. bulb — for light
  23. last — final
  24. root — of a word

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