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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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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 · suit · pit · lash · stand · roll · chest · arm

  1. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  2. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  3. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  4. We're on a ________________ here.
  5. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  6. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  7. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  8. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  9. My father caught me by the ________________.
  10. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  11. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  12. I can't ________________ this cold.
  13. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  14. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  15. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  16. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  17. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  18. When will it ________________ you to start?
  19. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  20. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  21. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  22. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a word
  2. roll — a list
  3. lash — to lash out
  4. roll — on a roll
  5. pit — in a race
  6. root — the cause
  7. stand — on your feet
  8. roll — a cake
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. suit — clothes
  11. stand — for spectators
  12. stand — to bear
  13. lash — an eyelash
  14. root — of a plant
  15. chest — a box
  16. lash — a whip stroke
  17. chest — of your body
  18. suit — to fit
  19. chest — of your body
  20. arm — a part of something
  21. pit — a hole
  22. pit — a fruit stone
  23. suit — in cards
  24. arm — part of the body

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