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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: temple · mouse · can · drill · bear · stick · root · lash

  1. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  2. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  3. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  4. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  5. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  6. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  7. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  8. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  9. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  10. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  11. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  12. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  13. When was this ________________ built?
  14. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  15. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  16. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  17. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  21. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  22. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. root — the cause
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. bear — to put up with
  4. stick — a piece of wood
  5. root — of a plant
  6. bear — the animal
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. drill — a practice
  9. lash — to lash out
  10. stick — to attach or keep to
  11. bear — the animal
  12. drill — army training
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. mouse — for a computer
  15. root — of a word
  16. lash — an eyelash
  17. temple — side of the head
  18. can — a tin
  19. can — to be able to
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. lash — a whip stroke
  22. drill — the tool
  23. can — a tin
  24. stick — a piece of wood

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