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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: perch · fork · current · cap · root · rush · pitcher · stock

  1. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  2. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  3. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  4. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  5. That must've been a ________________.
  6. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  7. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  11. The ________________ market has crashed.
  12. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  13. He is an ace ________________.
  14. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  19. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  20. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  21. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  22. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  23. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  24. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a plant
  2. root — the cause
  3. cap — a hat
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. rush — a thrill
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. cap — of ice
  8. current — electric
  9. current — of water
  10. fork — in a road
  11. stock — shares
  12. root — of a word
  13. pitcher — in baseball
  14. fork — a garden tool
  15. rush — hurry
  16. perch — for a bird
  17. current — happening now
  18. cap — a lid
  19. rush — to hurry
  20. stock — goods
  21. stock — a soup base
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. fork — to eat with
  24. perch — the fish

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