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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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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: bulb · chair · branch · temple · root · stick · rest · suit

  1. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  2. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  3. When will it ________________ you to start?
  4. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  5. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  6. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  14. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  15. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  16. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  17. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  18. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  19. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  20. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  21. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  22. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  23. When was this ________________ built?
  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. rest — what's left
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. suit — to fit
  4. branch — a division
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. stick — to attach or keep to
  7. suit — in cards
  8. bulb — for light
  9. rest — what's left
  10. bulb — for light
  11. temple — side of the head
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. suit — clothes
  14. branch — of a bank
  15. stick — a piece of wood
  16. chair — a professorship
  17. root — of a plant
  18. chair — to sit on
  19. root — the cause
  20. rest — a break
  21. branch — of a tree
  22. root — of a word
  23. temple — a place of worship
  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