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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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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: leaves · chip · bore · root · deal · dip · wave · stick

  1. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  2. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  3. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  6. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  7. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  10. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  11. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  12. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  13. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  14. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  15. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  18. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  19. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  20. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  21. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  22. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  23. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  24. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. stick — to attach or keep to
  3. dip — to dunk
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. wave — with your hand
  6. bore — to tire
  7. root — the cause
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. deal — an agreement
  10. chip — for betting
  11. root — of a word
  12. chip — in a computer
  13. stick — a piece of wood
  14. wave — of the sea
  15. deal — to handle
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. chip — to eat
  18. dip — to sink
  19. bore — gave birth
  20. wave — a sudden rise
  21. stick — a piece of wood
  22. deal — a big deal
  23. root — of a plant
  24. dip — a sauce

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