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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 · arm · stand · scale · suit · pitcher · fan · can

  1. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  2. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  3. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  6. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  7. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  10. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  15. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  16. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  17. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  18. I can't ________________ this cold.
  19. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  20. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. My father caught me by the ________________.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — for weighing
  2. arm — part of the body
  3. scale — size or range
  4. can — a tin
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. root — of a word
  7. stand — for spectators
  8. can — to be able to
  9. fan — to cool the air
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. suit — in cards
  12. root — the cause
  13. suit — to fit
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. stand — on your feet
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. root — of a plant
  18. stand — to bear
  19. arm — a part of something
  20. scale — in music
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. can — a tin
  23. arm — part of the body
  24. suit — clothes

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