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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: rush · foot · swing · toast · root · cabinet · squash · wake

  1. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  2. David sat on the ________________.
  3. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  4. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  5. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  6. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  9. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  10. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  11. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  12. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  13. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  14. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  15. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  16. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  17. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  20. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  24. I'd like to play a game of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — a trail
  2. swing — to play on
  3. swing — in golf
  4. squash — to crush
  5. cabinet — a cupboard
  6. squash — the vegetable
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. toast — the most admired
  9. root — of a plant
  10. toast — bread
  11. wake — to stop sleeping
  12. root — the cause
  13. foot — a measure
  14. root — of a word
  15. swing — music
  16. wake — before a funeral
  17. toast — a drink to someone
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. foot — the bottom
  21. rush — hurry
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. foot — part of the body
  24. squash — the sport

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