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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: track · calf · root · trunk · date · plane · jam · cue

  1. Have you settled on a ________________?
  2. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  3. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  4. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  5. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  6. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  7. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  8. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  9. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  12. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  13. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  14. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  15. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  16. The ________________ took off on time.
  17. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  18. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  19. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  20. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  21. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  22. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  23. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  24. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.

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

Answer key

  1. date — on the calendar
  2. root — the cause
  3. calf — of the leg
  4. cue — a hint
  5. root — of a plant
  6. track — to keep track
  7. date — on the calendar
  8. jam — a tight spot
  9. trunk — of a car
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. trunk — of a tree
  12. root — of a word
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. cue — for pool
  15. date — the fruit
  16. plane — an aircraft
  17. plane — a tool
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. track — a song
  20. plane — in geometry
  21. track — a path
  22. trunk — of an elephant
  23. jam — in traffic
  24. cue — a signal

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