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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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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: saw · mouse · rock · key · root · bulb · wave · safe

  1. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  2. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  3. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. He works in a ________________ mill.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  10. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  17. She's very handy with a ________________.
  18. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  23. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  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. rock — music
  2. root — the cause
  3. wave — a sudden rise
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. saw — the tool
  6. key — the most important part
  7. key — for a lock
  8. bulb — for light
  9. wave — with your hand
  10. root — of a plant
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. key — in music
  13. saw — past of 'see'
  14. bulb — for light
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. saw — the tool
  18. root — of a word
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. mouse — for a computer
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. wave — of the sea
  23. rock — a stone
  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