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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
468
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: band · root · squash · cabinet · rest · key · bulb · ball

  1. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  2. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  7. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  8. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. The King held a masked ________________.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  13. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  16. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. This piece is in a major ________________.
  21. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  22. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  23. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  24. The light ________________ burned out.

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

Answer key

  1. squash — the vegetable
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. root — of a word
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. band — a rubber band
  7. rest — what's left
  8. rest — what's left
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. ball — a dance
  11. key — for a lock
  12. squash — the sport
  13. root — the cause
  14. key — the most important part
  15. root — of a plant
  16. ball — a great time
  17. bulb — for light
  18. band — a music group
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. key — in music
  21. band — a ring
  22. rest — a break
  23. squash — to crush
  24. bulb — for light

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