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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: pitcher · root · ground · fine · coach · deal · ruler · race

  1. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  2. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  3. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  4. There's no middle ________________.
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  7. Have you met the new head ________________?
  8. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  9. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  10. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  11. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  12. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  13. He is an ace ________________.
  14. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  15. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  16. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  17. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  18. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  19. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  20. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  21. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  22. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  23. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  24. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a plant
  2. deal — to handle
  3. fine — all right
  4. ground — a position
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. race — a contest
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. ruler — a monarch
  10. root — the cause
  11. ground — crushed
  12. race — humankind
  13. pitcher — in baseball
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. race — the arms race
  16. ground — the earth
  17. coach — pulled by horses
  18. root — of a word
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. fine — a penalty
  21. deal — an agreement
  22. fine — high quality
  23. deal — a big deal
  24. ruler — for measuring

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