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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 116 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. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  2. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  3. When will it ________________ you to start?
  4. What do you think of the new ________________?
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  7. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  8. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  9. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  10. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  11. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  12. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  13. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  14. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  15. He was locked up in a ________________.
  16. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  17. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  18. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  19. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  20. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  21. Don't do anything ________________.
  22. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  23. Have you met the new head ________________?
  24. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a plant
  2. squash — to crush
  3. suit — to fit
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. suit — clothes
  7. coach — pulled by horses
  8. squash — the sport
  9. root — of a word
  10. snap — to click
  11. rash — a series
  12. cabinet — a cupboard
  13. cell — in biology
  14. snap — to snap out of it
  15. cell — in a prison
  16. suit — in cards
  17. snap — to speak sharply
  18. rash — on the skin
  19. squash — the vegetable
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. rash — hasty
  22. cell — a phone
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. root — the cause

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