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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.

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: chip · root · nail · rush · cabinet · pitcher · mate · rest

  1. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  7. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  8. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  9. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  12. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  13. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  14. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  17. The ________________ went through the wall.
  18. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  19. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  20. He is an ace ________________.
  21. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  24. Have you found your soul ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — a jug
  2. root — of a plant
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. chip — for betting
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. nail — on a finger
  7. mate — to breed
  8. root — of a word
  9. rest — a break
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. chip — in a computer
  12. root — the cause
  13. rest — what's left
  14. mate — a friend
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. chip — to eat
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. pitcher — in baseball
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. rush — hurry
  23. rest — what's left
  24. mate — a partner

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