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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 120 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: saw · ruler · patient · rush · root · bank · net · bulb

  1. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  2. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  3. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  4. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  5. She's very handy with a ________________.
  6. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  7. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  8. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  9. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. He works in a ________________ mill.
  15. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  16. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  17. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  18. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  19. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a word
  2. bank — of a river
  3. root — the cause
  4. patient — calm and waiting
  5. saw — the tool
  6. saw — past of 'see'
  7. net — in sport
  8. patient — a sick person
  9. ruler — a monarch
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. net — for catching
  12. bulb — for light
  13. rush — hurry
  14. saw — the tool
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. patient — a sick person
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. bank — for money
  19. bank — for money
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. net — after costs
  22. bulb — for light
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. root — of a plant

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