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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: root · rule · staff · spell · hand · chip · toast · lash

  1. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  2. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  3. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  4. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  5. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  6. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  7. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  8. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  9. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  10. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  11. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  12. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  13. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  14. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  15. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  16. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  17. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  18. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  19. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  20. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  21. How do you ________________ your surname?
  22. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  23. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  24. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a plant
  2. spell — magic
  3. toast — the most admired
  4. chip — in a computer
  5. root — of a word
  6. staff — employees
  7. rule — government
  8. hand — part of the body
  9. lash — to lash out
  10. staff — employees
  11. toast — bread
  12. lash — an eyelash
  13. root — the cause
  14. rule — to rule out
  15. staff — a stick
  16. spell — a short time
  17. rule — a law
  18. chip — for betting
  19. toast — a drink to someone
  20. hand — help
  21. spell — letters
  22. hand — in cards
  23. chip — to eat
  24. lash — a whip stroke

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