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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
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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: cabinet · date · drill · stick · root · foot · net · current

  1. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  2. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  5. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  10. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  11. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  12. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  13. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  14. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  15. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  16. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  17. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. Have you settled on a ________________?
  20. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  21. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  22. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  23. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  24. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.

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

Answer key

  1. root — the cause
  2. net — in sport
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. stick — to attach or keep to
  5. date — on the calendar
  6. current — of water
  7. stick — a piece of wood
  8. current — electric
  9. root — of a word
  10. foot — a measure
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. foot — the bottom
  13. drill — a practice
  14. root — of a plant
  15. drill — army training
  16. foot — part of the body
  17. net — for catching
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. date — on the calendar
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. net — after costs
  22. current — happening now
  23. drill — the tool
  24. date — the fruit

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