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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: root · rush · band · track · hide · rash · bank · jam

  1. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  2. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  3. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  4. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  5. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  6. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  9. Don't do anything ________________.
  10. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  11. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  12. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  13. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  14. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  15. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  16. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  17. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  18. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  19. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  22. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  23. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  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. root — the cause
  2. jam — in traffic
  3. rush — to hurry
  4. hide — animal skin
  5. root — of a plant
  6. track — to keep track
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. track — a song
  9. rash — hasty
  10. bank — for money
  11. jam — to spread on bread
  12. jam — a tight spot
  13. band — a rubber band
  14. root — of a word
  15. rash — on the skin
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. band — a music group
  18. bank — for money
  19. track — a path
  20. rush — hurry
  21. rash — a series
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. band — a ring
  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