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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: drill · root · bore · fan · squash · key · bound · jam

  1. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  4. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  5. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  8. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  9. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  10. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  11. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  12. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  13. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  14. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  17. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  20. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  21. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  22. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  23. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  24. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. root — the cause
  2. key — in music
  3. bore — to tire
  4. fan — to cool the air
  5. key — for a lock
  6. bound — certain
  7. drill — army training
  8. squash — the sport
  9. root — of a plant
  10. root — of a word
  11. bore — gave birth
  12. squash — to crush
  13. bore — to drill
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. bound — tied together
  16. squash — the vegetable
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. key — the most important part
  19. bound — obliged
  20. drill — a practice
  21. jam — a tight spot
  22. drill — the tool
  23. jam — to spread on bread
  24. jam — in traffic

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