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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: root · roll · cabinet · staff · patient · cap · fork · bound

  1. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  2. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  3. We're on a ________________ here.
  4. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  5. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  6. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  7. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  8. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  9. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  10. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  11. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  12. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  15. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  20. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  21. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  22. That was ________________ to happen.
  23. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  24. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — a cake
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. roll — on a roll
  4. root — of a word
  5. cap — of ice
  6. root — the cause
  7. patient — a sick person
  8. staff — employees
  9. cap — a lid
  10. fork — a garden tool
  11. staff — employees
  12. patient — calm and waiting
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. roll — a list
  15. cap — a hat
  16. bound — tied together
  17. root — of a plant
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. fork — in a road
  20. cabinet — a cupboard
  21. bound — obliged
  22. bound — certain
  23. staff — a stick
  24. fork — to eat with

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