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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: press · root · dip · spell · cap · jam · cell · trunk

  1. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  2. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  3. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  4. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  5. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  6. Did you ________________ the button?
  7. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  8. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  9. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  10. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  11. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  12. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  13. He was locked up in a ________________.
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  16. How do you ________________ your surname?
  17. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  18. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  19. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  20. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  21. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  22. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  23. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  24. I've got the luggage in my ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a plant
  2. dip — to sink
  3. trunk — of a tree
  4. cap — a hat
  5. press — a publisher
  6. press — to push
  7. press — newspapers
  8. root — of a word
  9. spell — a short time
  10. cell — a phone
  11. root — the cause
  12. dip — to dunk
  13. cell — in a prison
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. cap — of ice
  16. spell — letters
  17. cap — a lid
  18. jam — a tight spot
  19. cell — in biology
  20. spell — magic
  21. trunk — of an elephant
  22. dip — a sauce
  23. jam — in traffic
  24. trunk — of a car

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