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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 120 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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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: snap · rash · mark · root · mug · wake · deal · kid

  1. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  2. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  3. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  4. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  7. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  8. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  9. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  10. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  11. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  14. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  15. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  16. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  19. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  20. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  21. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  22. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  23. Don't do anything ________________.
  24. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.

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

Answer key

  1. root — the cause
  2. deal — an agreement
  3. mark — a grade
  4. kid — to tease
  5. mug — to rob
  6. snap — to click
  7. kid — child
  8. root — of a word
  9. snap — to speak sharply
  10. root — of a plant
  11. rash — a series
  12. mug — a face
  13. wake — to stop sleeping
  14. mark — to pay attention
  15. deal — a big deal
  16. mark — a trace
  17. mug — a cup
  18. wake — before a funeral
  19. deal — to handle
  20. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  21. rash — on the skin
  22. snap — to snap out of it
  23. rash — hasty
  24. wake — a trail

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