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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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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: root · bear · stick · nail · prune · rash · bank · stock

  1. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  2. The ________________ went through the wall.
  3. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  4. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  5. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  6. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  7. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  8. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  9. The ________________ market has crashed.
  10. Don't do anything ________________.
  11. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  12. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  13. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  14. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  15. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  16. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  17. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  18. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  19. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  20. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  21. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  22. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  23. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  24. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a plant
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. bear — the animal
  4. stock — a soup base
  5. nail — on a finger
  6. bank — for money
  7. rash — on the skin
  8. bank — for money
  9. stock — shares
  10. rash — hasty
  11. root — the cause
  12. stick — a piece of wood
  13. bear — to put up with
  14. stock — goods
  15. rash — a series
  16. bank — of a river
  17. prune — to trim
  18. stick — a piece of wood
  19. prune — to trim
  20. bear — the animal
  21. root — of a word
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. prune — the fruit
  24. stick — to attach or keep to

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