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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: rash · root · trunk · racket · can · drill · cabinet · track

  1. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  2. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  3. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  4. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  5. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  6. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  7. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  8. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  9. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  10. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  11. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  12. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  17. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  18. Don't do anything ________________.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  22. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  23. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. track — a path
  2. drill — the tool
  3. trunk — of an elephant
  4. cabinet — a cupboard
  5. drill — a practice
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. root — the cause
  8. root — of a word
  9. rash — a series
  10. root — of a plant
  11. track — to keep track
  12. rash — on the skin
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. can — to be able to
  16. drill — army training
  17. trunk — of a car
  18. rash — hasty
  19. can — a tin
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. trunk — of a tree
  22. racket — a loud noise
  23. track — a song
  24. can — a tin

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