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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. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  2. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  3. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  4. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  5. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  6. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  7. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  8. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  11. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  12. Don't do anything ________________.
  13. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  14. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  15. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  16. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  17. Have you settled on a ________________?
  18. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  19. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  20. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  21. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  22. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  23. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  24. Let us try to swim against the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a word
  2. rash — on the skin
  3. date — the fruit
  4. rest — a break
  5. rash — a series
  6. root — the cause
  7. branch — a division
  8. root — of a plant
  9. current — happening now
  10. branch — of a tree
  11. bass — the fish
  12. rash — hasty
  13. toast — the most admired
  14. rest — what's left
  15. toast — a drink to someone
  16. date — on the calendar
  17. date — on the calendar
  18. bass — the instrument
  19. toast — bread
  20. rest — what's left
  21. bass — low music
  22. branch — of a bank
  23. current — electric
  24. current — of water

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