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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: staff · root · stem · suit · toast · wax · ball · date

  1. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  2. The King held a masked ________________.
  3. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  4. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  5. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  6. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  7. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  8. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  9. Have you settled on a ________________?
  10. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  11. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  12. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  13. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  14. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  15. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  16. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  17. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  18. When will it ________________ you to start?
  19. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  22. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  23. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  24. Many English words ________________ from Latin.

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

Answer key

  1. date — the fruit
  2. ball — a dance
  3. staff — employees
  4. root — of a word
  5. root — of a plant
  6. wax — in the ear
  7. ball — a round shape
  8. date — on the calendar
  9. date — on the calendar
  10. toast — a drink to someone
  11. wax — for sculpting
  12. toast — the most admired
  13. stem — a stem cell
  14. root — the cause
  15. stem — of a plant
  16. suit — clothes
  17. toast — bread
  18. suit — to fit
  19. wax — to grow
  20. suit — in cards
  21. ball — a great time
  22. staff — employees
  23. staff — a stick
  24. stem — to come from

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