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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: cabinet · root · arm · stick · mouse · bay · pitcher · rock

  1. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  5. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  6. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  7. My father caught me by the ________________.
  8. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  9. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  10. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  11. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  12. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  13. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. He is an ace ________________.
  16. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  17. What do you think of the new ________________?
  18. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  19. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  20. My mare is ________________ in color.
  21. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  22. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  23. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  24. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — to attach or keep to
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. root — the cause
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. arm — part of the body
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. stick — a piece of wood
  10. arm — a part of something
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. root — of a plant
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. rock — music
  15. pitcher — in baseball
  16. mouse — for a computer
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. root — of a word
  19. bay — to keep at bay
  20. bay — a horse colour
  21. cabinet — a cupboard
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. rock — a stone
  24. bay — a part of the sea

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