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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.

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: bank · plane · ball · rash · root · mark · cue · lie

  1. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  3. Don't do anything ________________.
  4. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  5. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  6. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  7. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  8. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  9. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  10. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  11. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  12. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  13. The ________________ took off on time.
  14. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  19. The King held a masked ________________.
  20. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  21. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  22. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  23. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  24. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. cue — for pool
  3. rash — hasty
  4. plane — in geometry
  5. bank — for money
  6. rash — on the skin
  7. cue — a hint
  8. lie — to recline
  9. bank — for money
  10. ball — a round shape
  11. ball — a great time
  12. plane — a tool
  13. plane — an aircraft
  14. cue — a signal
  15. mark — a trace
  16. root — the cause
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. root — of a word
  19. ball — a dance
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. mark — a grade
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. root — of a plant
  24. bank — of a river

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