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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: firm · date · root · nail · mug · roll · branch · pass

  1. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  6. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  7. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  8. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  9. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  10. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  11. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  12. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  13. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  14. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  15. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. Have you settled on a ________________?
  18. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  19. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  20. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  21. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  22. We're on a ________________ here.
  23. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  24. The ________________ went through the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a word
  2. root — of a plant
  3. date — on the calendar
  4. mug — to rob
  5. root — the cause
  6. branch — of a tree
  7. pass — a permit
  8. roll — a list
  9. firm — steady
  10. branch — a division
  11. mug — a face
  12. nail — on a finger
  13. pass — to succeed
  14. firm — decided
  15. pass — to spend time
  16. mug — a cup
  17. date — on the calendar
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. branch — of a bank
  20. firm — a company
  21. date — the fruit
  22. roll — on a roll
  23. roll — a cake
  24. nail — for a hammer

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