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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.

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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: rush · plane · nail · track · dip · coach · mark · root

  1. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  2. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  3. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  4. The ________________ went through the wall.
  5. Have you met the new head ________________?
  6. The ________________ took off on time.
  7. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  8. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  11. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  12. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  13. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  14. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  15. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  16. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  17. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  18. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  19. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  20. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  21. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  22. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  23. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  24. That must've been a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a grade
  2. rush — hurry
  3. root — of a plant
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. plane — an aircraft
  7. root — the cause
  8. rush — to hurry
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. plane — in geometry
  11. dip — a sauce
  12. dip — to dunk
  13. dip — to sink
  14. nail — on a finger
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. coach — pulled by horses
  17. track — to keep track
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. track — a song
  20. root — of a word
  21. mark — a trace
  22. plane — a tool
  23. track — a path
  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