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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 120 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: mark · root · track · stick · file · bound · stem · rash

  1. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  2. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  3. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  4. Don't do anything ________________.
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  7. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  8. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  9. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  10. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  11. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  12. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  15. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  16. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  17. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  18. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  19. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  20. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  21. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  22. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  23. That was ________________ to happen.
  24. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. file — a tool
  3. stick — a piece of wood
  4. rash — hasty
  5. bound — obliged
  6. rash — a series
  7. stick — to attach or keep to
  8. root — the cause
  9. track — to keep track
  10. stem — a stem cell
  11. track — a path
  12. root — of a word
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. root — of a plant
  15. rash — on the skin
  16. file — a line of people
  17. mark — a grade
  18. stick — a piece of wood
  19. bound — tied together
  20. track — a song
  21. stem — of a plant
  22. stem — to come from
  23. bound — certain
  24. mark — a trace

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