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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 116 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: kick · root · suit · spell · shower · coach · bay · spring

  1. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  4. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  5. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  6. Have you met the new head ________________?
  7. How do you ________________ your surname?
  8. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  9. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  10. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  11. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  12. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  15. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  16. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  17. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  18. My mare is ________________ in color.
  19. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  20. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  23. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  24. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?

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

Answer key

  1. spell — magic
  2. root — of a plant
  3. spell — a short time
  4. bay — a part of the sea
  5. shower — a meteor shower
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. spell — letters
  8. spring — a coil
  9. shower — rain
  10. bay — to keep at bay
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. shower — to wash
  13. suit — in cards
  14. kick — with a leg
  15. spring — the season
  16. suit — clothes
  17. kick — in football
  18. bay — a horse colour
  19. kick — a thrill
  20. spring — of water
  21. suit — to fit
  22. root — the cause
  23. root — of a word
  24. coach — pulled by horses

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