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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
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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: tube · spell · foot · cap · bass · root · cue · fine

  1. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  4. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  5. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  6. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  7. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  8. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  9. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  10. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  11. I'll be taking the ________________.
  12. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  13. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  14. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  15. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  16. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  17. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  18. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  19. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  20. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  21. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  22. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  23. How do you ________________ your surname?
  24. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — for pool
  2. root — of a plant
  3. foot — a measure
  4. foot — the bottom
  5. cap — a hat
  6. fine — all right
  7. cue — a hint
  8. spell — a short time
  9. tube — in a tire
  10. cue — a signal
  11. tube — the underground
  12. root — the cause
  13. cap — of ice
  14. foot — part of the body
  15. bass — low music
  16. root — of a word
  17. bass — the fish
  18. cap — a lid
  19. bass — the instrument
  20. spell — magic
  21. fine — a penalty
  22. fine — high quality
  23. spell — letters
  24. tube — a container

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