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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. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  2. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  8. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  9. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  10. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  11. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  12. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  19. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  23. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  24. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.

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

Answer key

  1. root — the cause
  2. prune — the fruit
  3. mark — a trace
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. root — of a word
  6. mark — a grade
  7. cabinet — a cupboard
  8. branch — of a tree
  9. branch — a division
  10. vault — an arched ceiling
  11. straw — dry grass
  12. straw — a straw man
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. root — of a plant
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. prune — to trim
  17. pass — a permit
  18. prune — to trim
  19. vault — a safe
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. straw — to clutch at straws
  23. branch — of a bank
  24. vault — in gymnastics

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