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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: cue · rush · root · wax · bulb · present · chip · date

  1. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. The light ________________ burned out.
  4. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  5. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  6. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  7. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  8. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  9. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  10. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  11. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  12. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  13. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  14. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  17. Have you settled on a ________________?
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  22. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  23. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. present — the time now
  2. root — of a plant
  3. bulb — for light
  4. cue — a hint
  5. date — on the calendar
  6. wax — for sculpting
  7. root — the cause
  8. chip — in a computer
  9. cue — a signal
  10. present — there
  11. rush — to hurry
  12. chip — for betting
  13. wax — to grow
  14. root — of a word
  15. bulb — for light
  16. wax — in the ear
  17. date — on the calendar
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. present — a gift
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. date — the fruit
  22. cue — for pool
  23. chip — to eat
  24. rush — hurry

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