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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. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  3. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  4. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  5. She's very handy with a ________________.
  6. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  7. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  8. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  9. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  10. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  11. The ball is in your ________________.
  12. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  13. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  14. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  15. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  16. The ________________ took off on time.
  17. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  18. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  19. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  20. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  21. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  22. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  23. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  24. He works in a ________________ mill.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a plant
  2. root — the cause
  3. saw — past of 'see'
  4. staff — employees
  5. saw — the tool
  6. vault — a safe
  7. file — a tool
  8. lash — a whip stroke
  9. staff — employees
  10. lash — an eyelash
  11. court — for sport
  12. file — a document
  13. root — of a word
  14. lash — to lash out
  15. file — a line of people
  16. plane — an aircraft
  17. staff — a stick
  18. court — of law
  19. plane — a tool
  20. plane — in geometry
  21. vault — in gymnastics
  22. vault — an arched ceiling
  23. court — of a king
  24. saw — the tool

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