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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: stem · rush · fall · key · rash · shower · root · calf

  1. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  3. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  6. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  7. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  8. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  9. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  10. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  13. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  14. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  17. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  18. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  19. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  20. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  23. Don't do anything ________________.
  24. That must've been a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. fall — the season
  3. fall — to drop
  4. key — in music
  5. shower — rain
  6. shower — to wash
  7. root — of a word
  8. stem — to come from
  9. fall — to drop
  10. shower — a meteor shower
  11. rush — hurry
  12. calf — of the leg
  13. rash — on the skin
  14. root — the cause
  15. key — the most important part
  16. root — of a plant
  17. key — for a lock
  18. stem — of a plant
  19. stem — a stem cell
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. rash — hasty
  24. rush — a thrill

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