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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: rush · fan · object · branch · plane · craft · temple · root

  1. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  2. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  3. When was this ________________ built?
  4. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  5. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  6. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  7. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  8. The ________________ took off on time.
  9. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  10. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  11. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  12. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  13. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  14. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  17. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  18. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  19. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  20. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  21. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  24. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a word
  2. rush — to hurry
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. craft — a handicraft
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. object — an aim
  7. craft — a skill
  8. plane — an aircraft
  9. branch — of a tree
  10. plane — in geometry
  11. root — the cause
  12. craft — boats
  13. plane — a tool
  14. object — a thing
  15. rush — hurry
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. object — to protest
  18. fan — to cool the air
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. branch — of a bank
  21. temple — side of the head
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. branch — a division
  24. root — of a plant

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