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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.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: root · mug · rush · squash · perch · arm · bulb · press

  1. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  2. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  3. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  4. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  5. My father caught me by the ________________.
  6. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. Did you ________________ the button?
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  15. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  16. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  17. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  18. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  19. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  20. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  24. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a word
  2. squash — the sport
  3. rush — to hurry
  4. perch — the fish
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. squash — the vegetable
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. mug — a face
  9. bulb — for light
  10. press — newspapers
  11. mug — to rob
  12. press — to push
  13. bulb — for light
  14. root — the cause
  15. mug — a cup
  16. root — of a plant
  17. press — a publisher
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. squash — to crush
  20. perch — for a bird
  21. rush — hurry
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. perch — for a bird
  24. arm — a part of something

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