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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: fan · tube · root · suit · can · press · leaves · net

  1. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  2. I'll be taking the ________________.
  3. When will it ________________ you to start?
  4. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. Did you ________________ the button?
  7. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  8. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  9. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  10. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  13. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  14. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  21. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  22. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. net — for catching
  2. tube — the underground
  3. suit — to fit
  4. root — the cause
  5. suit — clothes
  6. press — to push
  7. net — in sport
  8. net — after costs
  9. tube — a container
  10. fan — to cool the air
  11. can — a tin
  12. root — of a word
  13. press — newspapers
  14. suit — in cards
  15. can — to be able to
  16. tube — in a tire
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. can — a tin
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. root — of a plant
  22. press — a publisher
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. leaves — lets stay

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