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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.

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: pop · root · saw · dip · rest · field · temple · march

  1. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  2. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  3. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  4. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  5. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  6. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  7. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  8. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  9. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  10. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  11. When was this ________________ built?
  12. You don't need to ________________ round.
  13. We're almost out of ________________.
  14. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  15. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  16. She's very handy with a ________________.
  17. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  18. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  19. He works in a ________________ mill.
  20. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  21. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  22. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  23. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  24. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a plant
  2. root — the cause
  3. rest — what's left
  4. dip — a sauce
  5. march — the month
  6. field — farmland
  7. dip — to dunk
  8. rest — what's left
  9. march — music
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. pop — to visit
  13. pop — soda
  14. dip — to sink
  15. field — for sport
  16. saw — the tool
  17. march — the month
  18. root — of a word
  19. saw — the tool
  20. pop — music
  21. field — a subject
  22. temple — side of the head
  23. rest — a break
  24. saw — past of 'see'

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