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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. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  3. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  4. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  5. That must've been a ________________.
  6. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  7. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  8. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  9. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  12. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  15. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  16. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  17. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  18. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  23. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a word
  2. fan — to cool the air
  3. patient — calm and waiting
  4. root — of a plant
  5. rush — a thrill
  6. chip — in a computer
  7. patient — a sick person
  8. root — the cause
  9. straw — to clutch at straws
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. chip — to eat
  12. straw — a straw man
  13. suit — to fit
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. trunk — of an elephant
  16. straw — dry grass
  17. trunk — of a tree
  18. chip — for betting
  19. rush — hurry
  20. suit — in cards
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. trunk — of a car
  23. patient — a sick person
  24. suit — clothes

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