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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: lean · ruler · fan · root · rush · spell · bank · land

  1. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  2. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  5. How do you ________________ your surname?
  6. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  9. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  10. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  11. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  12. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  13. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  14. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  15. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  16. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  17. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  18. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  19. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  20. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  21. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. When are we going to ________________?
  24. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — thin
  2. root — of a word
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. spell — letters
  6. bank — of a river
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. spell — a short time
  10. ruler — a monarch
  11. root — the cause
  12. land — a country
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. spell — magic
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. bank — for money
  17. lean — to rest against
  18. root — of a plant
  19. lean — to bend
  20. bank — for money
  21. fan — to cool the air
  22. rush — hurry
  23. land — to come down
  24. land — ground

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