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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: mark · rock · object · roll · mine · root · lie · content

  1. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  4. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  5. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  8. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  9. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  10. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  11. We're on a ________________ here.
  12. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  17. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  20. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  21. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  22. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  23. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  24. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.

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

Answer key

  1. mine — an explosive
  2. rock — a stone
  3. mark — a grade
  4. object — an aim
  5. content — videos and posts
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. object — a thing
  8. root — of a plant
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. object — to protest
  11. roll — on a roll
  12. content — the amount
  13. rock — music
  14. mark — to pay attention
  15. mark — a trace
  16. mine — for digging
  17. lie — to recline
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. root — of a word
  20. roll — a cake
  21. content — happy
  22. root — the cause
  23. roll — a list
  24. mine — belonging to me

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