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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.

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: spell · spring · snap · root · current · coach · hide · pound

  1. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  2. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  3. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  4. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  5. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  6. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  9. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  10. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  11. Have you met the new head ________________?
  12. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  13. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  16. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  19. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  20. How do you ________________ your surname?
  21. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  22. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  23. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  24. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a plant
  2. spring — a coil
  3. root — of a word
  4. hide — to keep secret
  5. snap — to snap out of it
  6. hide — animal skin
  7. current — electric
  8. spring — the season
  9. coach — pulled by horses
  10. pound — for dogs
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. spring — of water
  14. current — of water
  15. pound — to hit hard
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. current — happening now
  18. spell — a short time
  19. root — the cause
  20. spell — letters
  21. spell — magic
  22. snap — to speak sharply
  23. snap — to click
  24. pound — a weight

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