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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 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  7. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  8. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  9. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  13. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  14. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  15. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  16. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  17. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  18. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  19. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  20. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  21. When are we going to ________________?
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  24. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a word
  2. mark — a trace
  3. root — of a plant
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. mark — a grade
  6. land — ground
  7. mark — to pay attention
  8. rush — hurry
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. root — the cause
  13. stick — a piece of wood
  14. fan — to cool the air
  15. stick — a piece of wood
  16. leaves — of a tree
  17. bank — for money
  18. bank — for money
  19. bank — of a river
  20. land — a country
  21. land — to come down
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. stick — to attach or keep to
  24. fan — a supporter

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