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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: mouse · field · mark · branch · root · track · pitcher · spring

  1. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  2. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  3. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  4. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  7. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  8. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  9. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  10. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  11. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  12. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  13. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  14. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  15. He is an ace ________________.
  16. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  17. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  18. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  19. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  22. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  23. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  24. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a word
  2. spring — a coil
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. root — of a plant
  5. mark — a trace
  6. branch — of a tree
  7. mouse — for a computer
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. spring — the season
  10. track — to keep track
  11. branch — a division
  12. field — a subject
  13. spring — of water
  14. field — for sport
  15. pitcher — in baseball
  16. track — a path
  17. root — the cause
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. branch — of a bank
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. field — farmland
  22. mark — a grade
  23. track — a song
  24. pitcher — a jug

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