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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: press · root · cabinet · pop · lean · ruler · ball · spell

  1. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  2. You don't need to ________________ round.
  3. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  4. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  7. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  8. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  9. The King held a masked ________________.
  10. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  11. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  12. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  13. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  14. Did you ________________ the button?
  15. We're almost out of ________________.
  16. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  17. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  18. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  19. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  20. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  21. How do you ________________ your surname?
  22. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  23. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  24. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — a monarch
  2. pop — to visit
  3. spell — magic
  4. ball — a great time
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. root — of a plant
  7. lean — to bend
  8. press — a publisher
  9. ball — a dance
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. spell — a short time
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. ball — a round shape
  14. press — to push
  15. pop — soda
  16. root — the cause
  17. lean — thin
  18. press — newspapers
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. cabinet — a cupboard
  21. spell — letters
  22. pop — music
  23. lean — to rest against
  24. root — of a word

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