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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: chip · ground · pass · roll · rash · tube · hide · root

  1. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  2. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  3. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  4. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  5. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  6. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  7. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  8. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  9. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  10. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  11. I'll be taking the ________________.
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  14. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  15. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  16. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  17. Don't do anything ________________.
  18. There's no middle ________________.
  19. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  20. We're on a ________________ here.
  21. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  22. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  23. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  24. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — crushed
  2. ground — the earth
  3. hide — to keep secret
  4. root — of a plant
  5. hide — animal skin
  6. pass — to succeed
  7. tube — a container
  8. root — the cause
  9. rash — a series
  10. pass — to spend time
  11. tube — the underground
  12. pass — a permit
  13. tube — in a tire
  14. roll — a cake
  15. chip — in a computer
  16. root — of a word
  17. rash — hasty
  18. ground — a position
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. roll — on a roll
  21. chip — for betting
  22. roll — a list
  23. rash — on the skin
  24. chip — to eat

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