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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 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. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  3. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  4. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  5. We're on a ________________ here.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  8. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  9. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  10. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  11. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  12. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  13. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  14. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  15. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  16. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  17. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  20. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  21. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  22. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  23. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  24. He is an ace ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. root — the cause
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. leaves — to go away
  4. row — a line
  5. roll — on a roll
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. bank — for money
  8. roll — a list
  9. bank — for money
  10. degree — temperature
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. degree — from a university
  13. root — of a plant
  14. leaves — of a tree
  15. bank — of a river
  16. root — of a word
  17. row — to paddle
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. row — a quarrel
  20. jam — in traffic
  21. degree — an amount
  22. jam — a tight spot
  23. roll — a cake
  24. pitcher — in baseball

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