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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.

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: root · foot · chair · cue · roll · bore · fan · stand

  1. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  2. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  3. I can't ________________ this cold.
  4. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  5. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  6. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  7. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  8. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  9. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  10. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  11. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  12. We're on a ________________ here.
  13. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  14. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  15. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  16. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  17. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  18. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  19. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  20. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  21. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  22. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  23. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  24. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a hint
  2. root — the cause
  3. stand — to bear
  4. cue — for pool
  5. stand — for spectators
  6. fan — to cool the air
  7. bore — gave birth
  8. chair — a professorship
  9. bore — to drill
  10. roll — a list
  11. stand — on your feet
  12. roll — on a roll
  13. chair — a leader
  14. roll — a cake
  15. bore — to tire
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. root — of a plant
  18. chair — to sit on
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. foot — part of the body
  21. cue — a signal
  22. foot — a measure
  23. root — of a word
  24. foot — the bottom

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