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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: pit · roll · stock · ruler · bass · root · date · wound

  1. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  2. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  3. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  4. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  5. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  6. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  7. We're on a ________________ here.
  8. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  11. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  12. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  13. Have you settled on a ________________?
  14. The ________________ market has crashed.
  15. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  16. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  17. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  18. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  19. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  20. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  21. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  22. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  23. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  24. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. stock — a soup base
  2. root — the cause
  3. date — on the calendar
  4. ruler — a monarch
  5. roll — a cake
  6. bass — low music
  7. roll — on a roll
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. wound — an injury
  11. root — of a word
  12. roll — a list
  13. date — on the calendar
  14. stock — shares
  15. bass — the instrument
  16. root — of a plant
  17. bass — the fish
  18. date — the fruit
  19. wound — past of 'wind'
  20. pit — a hole
  21. stock — goods
  22. wound — an injury
  23. pit — in a race
  24. pit — a fruit stone

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