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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: pop · jam · can · foot · root · object · squash · sharp

  1. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  3. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  4. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  5. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  6. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  7. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  8. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  9. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  10. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  11. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  12. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  13. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  14. You don't need to ________________ round.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  19. It's one o'clock ________________.
  20. We're almost out of ________________.
  21. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  22. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  23. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — in traffic
  2. object — a thing
  3. jam — to spread on bread
  4. foot — part of the body
  5. sharp — with an edge
  6. object — an aim
  7. foot — the bottom
  8. squash — the sport
  9. squash — the vegetable
  10. object — to protest
  11. root — of a plant
  12. squash — to crush
  13. root — of a word
  14. pop — to visit
  15. can — to be able to
  16. jam — a tight spot
  17. can — a tin
  18. root — the cause
  19. sharp — exactly
  20. pop — soda
  21. sharp — clever
  22. foot — a measure
  23. pop — music
  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