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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
468
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: bass · bound · cabinet · toast · root · current · ball · game

  1. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  2. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  3. The King held a masked ________________.
  4. That was a fun ________________.
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  7. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  8. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  9. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  10. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  13. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  14. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  17. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  18. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  19. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  23. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  24. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. root — the cause
  2. toast — a drink to someone
  3. ball — a dance
  4. game — a match
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. bass — the instrument
  7. root — of a word
  8. root — of a plant
  9. game — a kind of play
  10. game — wild animals
  11. current — electric
  12. ball — a great time
  13. toast — bread
  14. ball — a round shape
  15. bound — tied together
  16. bass — low music
  17. toast — the most admired
  18. current — happening now
  19. cabinet — a cupboard
  20. current — of water
  21. bound — certain
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. bound — obliged
  24. bass — the fish

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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