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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.

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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: can · hand · root · staff · squash · suit · fine · wake

  1. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  2. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  3. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  6. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  9. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  13. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  14. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  15. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  16. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  17. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  18. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  19. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  20. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  21. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  22. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. hand — part of the body
  3. squash — to crush
  4. can — a tin
  5. hand — help
  6. suit — in cards
  7. can — to be able to
  8. staff — employees
  9. wake — a trail
  10. can — a tin
  11. suit — to fit
  12. root — of a plant
  13. fine — a penalty
  14. wake — before a funeral
  15. hand — in cards
  16. staff — a stick
  17. squash — the vegetable
  18. root — the cause
  19. squash — the sport
  20. root — of a word
  21. fine — high quality
  22. wake — to stop sleeping
  23. suit — clothes
  24. fine — all right

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