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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: spring · roll · plane · jam · prune · suit · root · lie

  1. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  2. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  5. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  6. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  7. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  8. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  9. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  10. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  11. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  12. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  13. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  14. We're on a ________________ here.
  15. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  16. The ________________ took off on time.
  17. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  18. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  19. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  20. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  21. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  22. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  23. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  24. When will it ________________ you to start?

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

Answer key

  1. root — the cause
  2. root — of a word
  3. suit — clothes
  4. roll — a list
  5. lie — to recline
  6. plane — a tool
  7. jam — in traffic
  8. suit — in cards
  9. jam — to spread on bread
  10. spring — a coil
  11. prune — to trim
  12. jam — a tight spot
  13. roll — a cake
  14. roll — on a roll
  15. root — of a plant
  16. plane — an aircraft
  17. prune — the fruit
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. spring — of water
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. plane — in geometry
  22. spring — the season
  23. prune — to trim
  24. suit — to fit

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