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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: file · roll · deal · date · last · temple · patient · root

  1. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  2. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  3. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  4. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  5. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  6. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  7. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  8. We're on a ________________ here.
  9. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  10. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  11. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  12. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  13. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  14. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  17. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  18. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  19. Have you settled on a ________________?
  20. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  21. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  22. False peace will not ________________.
  23. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  24. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. deal — to handle
  2. file — a document
  3. date — the fruit
  4. file — a tool
  5. deal — a big deal
  6. last — final
  7. roll — a list
  8. roll — on a roll
  9. roll — a cake
  10. root — of a plant
  11. deal — an agreement
  12. file — a line of people
  13. last — finally
  14. root — of a word
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. temple — side of the head
  17. patient — a sick person
  18. root — the cause
  19. date — on the calendar
  20. patient — a sick person
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. last — to go on
  23. patient — calm and waiting
  24. date — on the calendar

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