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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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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 · net · snap · squash · can · rest · bank · object

  1. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  2. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  3. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  4. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  5. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  6. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  7. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  8. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  9. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  10. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  11. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  12. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  17. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  20. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  21. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  22. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  23. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  24. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. object — an aim
  2. net — after costs
  3. root — of a word
  4. snap — to speak sharply
  5. bank — of a river
  6. squash — the sport
  7. net — in sport
  8. squash — to crush
  9. root — of a plant
  10. object — to protest
  11. squash — the vegetable
  12. snap — to click
  13. can — a tin
  14. rest — what's left
  15. can — a tin
  16. snap — to snap out of it
  17. rest — a break
  18. can — to be able to
  19. bank — for money
  20. net — for catching
  21. rest — what's left
  22. bank — for money
  23. object — a thing
  24. root — the cause

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