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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 116 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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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: fork · cabinet · root · squash · bay · drill · mark · wave

  1. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  2. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  3. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  4. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  5. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  6. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  7. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  8. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  9. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  10. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  13. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  14. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  15. What do you think of the new ________________?
  16. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  17. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  18. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  19. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  20. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  21. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  22. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  23. My mare is ________________ in color.
  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. fork — in a road
  2. wave — a sudden rise
  3. root — of a plant
  4. cabinet — a cupboard
  5. drill — a practice
  6. drill — the tool
  7. squash — the vegetable
  8. wave — of the sea
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. bay — a part of the sea
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. mark — a grade
  13. squash — to crush
  14. fork — to eat with
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. root — of a word
  17. bay — to keep at bay
  18. drill — army training
  19. root — the cause
  20. squash — the sport
  21. fork — a garden tool
  22. wave — with your hand
  23. bay — a horse colour
  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