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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: prune · root · roll · file · saw · ruler · face · pitcher

  1. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  2. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  3. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  4. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  5. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  6. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  7. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  8. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  9. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  10. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  11. He is an ace ________________.
  12. He works in a ________________ mill.
  13. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  14. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  15. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  16. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  17. She's very handy with a ________________.
  18. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  19. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  20. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  21. We're on a ________________ here.
  22. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  23. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  24. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.

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

Answer key

  1. root — the cause
  2. roll — a list
  3. file — a document
  4. face — to confront
  5. file — a tool
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. root — of a plant
  8. face — to point toward
  9. prune — to trim
  10. face — part of the head
  11. pitcher — in baseball
  12. saw — the tool
  13. root — of a word
  14. ruler — a monarch
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. saw — the tool
  18. roll — a cake
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. file — a line of people
  21. roll — on a roll
  22. prune — the fruit
  23. saw — past of 'see'
  24. prune — to trim

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