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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 · suit · bulb · jam · root · object · hand · nail

  1. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. I've got to change the light ________________.
  4. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  7. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  8. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  9. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  10. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  16. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  17. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  18. The ________________ went through the wall.
  19. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  20. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  21. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  22. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. hand — part of the body
  2. rock — a stone
  3. bulb — for light
  4. root — the cause
  5. suit — clothes
  6. hand — in cards
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. object — an aim
  9. object — to protest
  10. rock — music
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. suit — to fit
  13. bulb — for light
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. nail — on a finger
  16. jam — in traffic
  17. jam — a tight spot
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. root — of a word
  20. object — a thing
  21. hand — help
  22. root — of a plant
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. suit — in cards

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