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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.

Make a worksheet

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 in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  2. Where did you ________________ them?
  3. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  4. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  5. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  6. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  7. The ________________ took off on time.
  8. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  9. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  10. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  11. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  12. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  13. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  14. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  15. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  16. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  20. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  21. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  24. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.

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

Answer key

  1. root — the cause
  2. mug — to rob
  3. root — of a word
  4. mug — a face
  5. lash — to lash out
  6. lash — an eyelash
  7. plane — an aircraft
  8. jam — to spread on bread
  9. root — of a plant
  10. cue — a signal
  11. file — a tool
  12. cue — a hint
  13. lash — a whip stroke
  14. plane — in geometry
  15. jam — in traffic
  16. file — a document
  17. mug — a cup
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. fan — to cool the air
  20. plane — a tool
  21. jam — a tight spot
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. file — a line of people
  24. cue — for pool

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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