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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: root · rush · can · degree · staff · tube · craft · bay

  1. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  2. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  3. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  4. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  5. That must've been a ________________.
  6. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  7. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  8. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  12. My mare is ________________ in color.
  13. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  14. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  17. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  18. I'll be taking the ________________.
  19. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  22. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  23. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  24. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.

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

Answer key

  1. craft — a handicraft
  2. bay — to keep at bay
  3. staff — employees
  4. root — the cause
  5. rush — a thrill
  6. bay — a part of the sea
  7. tube — in a tire
  8. degree — an amount
  9. can — a tin
  10. can — to be able to
  11. craft — boats
  12. bay — a horse colour
  13. degree — temperature
  14. root — of a plant
  15. rush — hurry
  16. craft — a skill
  17. rush — to hurry
  18. tube — the underground
  19. tube — a container
  20. can — a tin
  21. degree — from a university
  22. staff — a stick
  23. staff — employees
  24. root — of a word

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