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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 120 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: file · dip · content · rest · drill · bulb · saw · root

  1. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  2. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  3. He works in a ________________ mill.
  4. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  5. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  6. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  7. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  8. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  11. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  14. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  15. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  16. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  17. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  20. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  21. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  22. She's very handy with a ________________.
  23. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  24. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. content — videos and posts
  3. saw — the tool
  4. saw — past of 'see'
  5. rest — a break
  6. dip — a sauce
  7. file — a document
  8. content — the amount
  9. bulb — for light
  10. file — a tool
  11. root — of a word
  12. bulb — for light
  13. dip — to dunk
  14. file — a line of people
  15. drill — the tool
  16. root — of a plant
  17. dip — to sink
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. rest — what's left
  20. drill — army training
  21. drill — a practice
  22. saw — the tool
  23. content — happy
  24. root — the cause

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