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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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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: cabinet · jam · perch · root · suit · saw · spring · ball

  1. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  2. He works in a ________________ mill.
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  5. The King held a masked ________________.
  6. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  7. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  8. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  9. What do you think of the new ________________?
  10. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  15. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  16. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  17. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  22. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  23. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  24. Tom got himself in a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a word
  2. saw — the tool
  3. suit — clothes
  4. root — of a plant
  5. ball — a dance
  6. spring — the season
  7. jam — in traffic
  8. perch — the fish
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. saw — past of 'see'
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. root — the cause
  13. suit — to fit
  14. perch — for a bird
  15. perch — for a bird
  16. cabinet — a cupboard
  17. spring — a coil
  18. saw — the tool
  19. jam — to spread on bread
  20. suit — in cards
  21. ball — a round shape
  22. spring — of water
  23. ball — a great time
  24. jam — a tight spot

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