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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: track · hide · spring · root · fan · chair · perch · mug

  1. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  2. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  3. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  4. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  8. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  9. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  10. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  11. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  12. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  13. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  14. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  15. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  16. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  17. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  18. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  19. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  24. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a plant
  2. hide — to keep secret
  3. chair — a professorship
  4. track — a song
  5. mug — a cup
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. root — of a word
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. track — to keep track
  10. spring — of water
  11. hide — animal skin
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. root — the cause
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. fan — to cool the air
  17. spring — a coil
  18. spring — the season
  19. chair — to sit on
  20. mug — to rob
  21. perch — the fish
  22. mug — a face
  23. chair — a leader
  24. track — a path

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