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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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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: dip · board · coach · row · snap · ruler · firm · root

  1. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  2. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  3. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  4. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  5. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  6. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  7. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  8. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  9. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  12. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  13. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  14. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  15. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  16. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  17. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  18. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  19. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  20. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  21. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  22. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  23. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  24. Have you met the new head ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a word
  2. dip — to sink
  3. ruler — a monarch
  4. board — a committee
  5. row — a line
  6. snap — to snap out of it
  7. board — a flat piece
  8. board — to get on
  9. row — to paddle
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. root — the cause
  12. firm — steady
  13. dip — a sauce
  14. root — of a plant
  15. firm — decided
  16. coach — pulled by horses
  17. row — a quarrel
  18. snap — to click
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. firm — a company
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. snap — to speak sharply
  23. dip — to dunk
  24. coach — a trainer

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