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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: root · fine · cabinet · racket · stem · suit · ground · current

  1. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  2. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  3. There's no middle ________________.
  4. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  5. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  6. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  7. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  8. When will it ________________ you to start?
  9. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  10. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  11. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  12. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  16. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  23. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  24. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — a loud noise
  2. ground — the earth
  3. ground — a position
  4. root — of a word
  5. fine — all right
  6. stem — a stem cell
  7. ground — crushed
  8. suit — to fit
  9. racket — for tennis
  10. stem — to come from
  11. root — the cause
  12. fine — high quality
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. current — happening now
  15. root — of a plant
  16. suit — clothes
  17. current — of water
  18. current — electric
  19. racket — for tennis
  20. suit — in cards
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. cabinet — a cupboard
  23. stem — of a plant
  24. fine — a penalty

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