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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. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  3. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  4. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  5. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  6. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  9. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  10. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  11. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  12. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  13. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  14. Don't do anything ________________.
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  18. He is an ace ________________.
  19. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  20. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  21. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  24. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a plant
  2. object — an aim
  3. rush — hurry
  4. patient — a sick person
  5. lash — an eyelash
  6. lash — to lash out
  7. mark — a grade
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. patient — a sick person
  10. object — a thing
  11. root — of a word
  12. root — the cause
  13. patient — calm and waiting
  14. rash — hasty
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. pitcher — in baseball
  19. mark — a trace
  20. rash — on the skin
  21. lash — a whip stroke
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. object — to protest
  24. rash — a series

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