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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: rock · roll · bulb · cue · bound · swing · root · cap

  1. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  4. We're on a ________________ here.
  5. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. David sat on the ________________.
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. That was ________________ to happen.
  10. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  11. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  12. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  13. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  14. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  15. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  16. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  17. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  20. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  21. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  24. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.

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

Answer key

  1. root — the cause
  2. bulb — for light
  3. swing — in golf
  4. roll — on a roll
  5. cap — a hat
  6. bound — obliged
  7. swing — to play on
  8. rock — music
  9. bound — certain
  10. root — of a word
  11. cap — of ice
  12. rock — a stone
  13. roll — a cake
  14. bulb — of a plant
  15. roll — a list
  16. cue — a hint
  17. cap — a lid
  18. bulb — for light
  19. cue — a signal
  20. swing — music
  21. cue — for pool
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. root — of a plant
  24. bound — tied together

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