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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: spell · stock · last · ruler · shower · stand · root · ground

  1. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  4. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  7. How do you ________________ your surname?
  8. The ________________ market has crashed.
  9. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  10. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  11. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  12. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  13. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  14. There's no middle ________________.
  15. False peace will not ________________.
  16. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  17. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  18. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  19. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  20. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  21. I can't ________________ this cold.
  22. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  23. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  24. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. root — of a plant
  3. shower — rain
  4. root — the cause
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. stand — for spectators
  7. spell — letters
  8. stock — shares
  9. stand — on your feet
  10. last — final
  11. ground — the earth
  12. last — finally
  13. root — of a word
  14. ground — a position
  15. last — to go on
  16. shower — to wash
  17. spell — magic
  18. ruler — a monarch
  19. stock — a soup base
  20. ground — crushed
  21. stand — to bear
  22. stock — goods
  23. shower — a meteor shower
  24. spell — a short time

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