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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: lash · can · cue · pop · rest · leaves · root · file

  1. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  7. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  8. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  9. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  10. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  11. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  12. You don't need to ________________ round.
  13. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  14. We're almost out of ________________.
  15. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  16. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  19. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  23. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  24. I would like to have a ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. file — a tool
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. lash — to lash out
  5. can — a tin
  6. file — a document
  7. cue — a signal
  8. rest — what's left
  9. rest — what's left
  10. pop — music
  11. cue — for pool
  12. pop — to visit
  13. lash — a whip stroke
  14. pop — soda
  15. leaves — to go away
  16. root — of a word
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. root — of a plant
  19. root — the cause
  20. can — a tin
  21. can — to be able to
  22. cue — a hint
  23. file — a line of people
  24. rest — a break

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