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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
468
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 · pass · cold · saw · toast · rash · branch · can

  1. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  3. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  4. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. He works in a ________________ mill.
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  11. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  12. Don't do anything ________________.
  13. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  14. I had a bad ________________ and was in bed for a week.
  15. The water is too ________________.
  16. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  17. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  18. Its rival in the ________________ War, the Soviet Union, exploited this at the time.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  21. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  22. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  23. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  24. You can't go backstage without a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. root — the cause
  3. toast — bread
  4. rash — on the skin
  5. can — to be able to
  6. root — of a plant
  7. can — a tin
  8. saw — the tool
  9. saw — the tool
  10. pass — to spend time
  11. toast — a drink to someone
  12. rash — hasty
  13. pass — to succeed
  14. cold — an illness
  15. cold — not warm
  16. branch — a division
  17. root — of a word
  18. cold — the Cold War
  19. can — a tin
  20. branch — of a bank
  21. saw — past of 'see'
  22. toast — the most admired
  23. branch — of a tree
  24. pass — a permit

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