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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.

Make a worksheet

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: bass · fork · date · root · cabinet · saw · can · lash

  1. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  4. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  5. Have you settled on a ________________?
  6. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. She's very handy with a ________________.
  9. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  10. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  13. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  14. He works in a ________________ mill.
  15. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  16. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  17. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  18. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  19. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  22. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  23. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  24. What do you think of the new ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. root — the cause
  2. can — a tin
  3. root — of a plant
  4. root — of a word
  5. date — on the calendar
  6. date — on the calendar
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. saw — the tool
  9. lash — a whip stroke
  10. saw — past of 'see'
  11. can — to be able to
  12. lash — an eyelash
  13. lash — to lash out
  14. saw — the tool
  15. fork — to eat with
  16. bass — low music
  17. bass — the instrument
  18. cabinet — a cupboard
  19. date — the fruit
  20. can — a tin
  21. fork — a garden tool
  22. fork — in a road
  23. bass — the fish
  24. cabinet — ministers

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