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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: suit · ground · pit · mouse · bound · date · swing · root

  1. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  2. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  3. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  4. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  7. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  8. There's no middle ________________.
  9. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  10. David sat on the ________________.
  11. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. Have you settled on a ________________?
  14. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  15. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  16. That was ________________ to happen.
  17. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  20. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  21. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  22. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  24. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. root — the cause
  2. mouse — for a computer
  3. ground — the earth
  4. ground — crushed
  5. suit — clothes
  6. date — the fruit
  7. pit — a hole
  8. ground — a position
  9. date — on the calendar
  10. swing — to play on
  11. root — of a word
  12. suit — to fit
  13. date — on the calendar
  14. bound — tied together
  15. root — of a plant
  16. bound — certain
  17. bound — obliged
  18. suit — in cards
  19. pit — a fruit stone
  20. pit — in a race
  21. swing — music
  22. swing — in golf
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. mouse — the animal

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