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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: root · suit · mark · field · branch · snap · bulb · rock

  1. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  2. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  3. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  4. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  5. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  8. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  13. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  14. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  19. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  20. When will it ________________ you to start?
  21. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  22. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. snap — to snap out of it
  2. mark — to pay attention
  3. root — of a plant
  4. branch — of a bank
  5. root — the cause
  6. rock — music
  7. snap — to click
  8. branch — a division
  9. rock — a stone
  10. root — of a word
  11. bulb — for light
  12. field — a subject
  13. suit — clothes
  14. suit — in cards
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. branch — of a tree
  17. bulb — for light
  18. field — for sport
  19. snap — to speak sharply
  20. suit — to fit
  21. mark — a grade
  22. mark — a trace
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. field — farmland

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