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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 116 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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: rash · pop · cabinet · mug · root · perch · key · kid

  1. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  2. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  3. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  4. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. Where did you ________________ them?
  7. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  8. We're almost out of ________________.
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  13. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  14. Don't do anything ________________.
  15. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  20. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  21. You don't need to ________________ round.
  22. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  24. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — the fish
  2. rash — on the skin
  3. root — of a word
  4. root — the cause
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. mug — to rob
  7. rash — a series
  8. pop — soda
  9. mug — a face
  10. key — in music
  11. key — for a lock
  12. root — of a plant
  13. kid — child
  14. rash — hasty
  15. perch — for a bird
  16. mug — a cup
  17. kid — to tease
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. key — the most important part
  20. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  21. pop — to visit
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  24. pop — music

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