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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: fan · staff · rush · root · chip · lash · fine · lean

  1. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  2. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  3. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  4. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  5. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  6. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  7. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  8. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  9. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  10. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  11. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  12. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  13. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  14. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  15. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  16. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  17. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  18. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  19. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  20. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  23. That must've been a ________________.
  24. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a plant
  2. lash — a whip stroke
  3. fan — to cool the air
  4. fine — a penalty
  5. staff — a stick
  6. lash — an eyelash
  7. rush — hurry
  8. staff — employees
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. chip — for betting
  11. staff — employees
  12. lash — to lash out
  13. lean — thin
  14. chip — to eat
  15. chip — in a computer
  16. root — the cause
  17. lean — to rest against
  18. lean — to bend
  19. root — of a word
  20. fine — high quality
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. fine — all right
  23. rush — a thrill
  24. fan — a supporter

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