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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 120 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. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. What do you think of the new ________________?
  4. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  5. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  6. He is an ace ________________.
  7. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  8. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  9. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  10. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  15. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  16. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  17. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  18. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  19. It's one o'clock ________________.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  22. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  23. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  24. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. root — of a plant
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. root — the cause
  5. branch — of a bank
  6. pitcher — in baseball
  7. firm — steady
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. firm — a company
  11. can — a tin
  12. sharp — with an edge
  13. can — a tin
  14. wake — before a funeral
  15. cabinet — a cupboard
  16. branch — a division
  17. firm — decided
  18. wake — a trail
  19. sharp — exactly
  20. can — to be able to
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. sharp — clever
  23. wake — to stop sleeping
  24. root — of a word

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