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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: rash · pop · ground · bulb · perch · root · coach · fan

  1. Have you met the new head ________________?
  2. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  3. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  4. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  5. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  6. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  7. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. We're almost out of ________________.
  10. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  13. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  14. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  15. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  16. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  17. Don't do anything ________________.
  18. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  19. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  20. There's no middle ________________.
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  24. You don't need to ________________ round.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. root — of a word
  4. ground — the earth
  5. root — the cause
  6. root — of a plant
  7. fan — to cool the air
  8. bulb — for light
  9. pop — soda
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. bulb — for light
  12. ground — crushed
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. perch — the fish
  15. rash — a series
  16. coach — pulled by horses
  17. rash — hasty
  18. rash — on the skin
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. ground — a position
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. pop — music
  24. pop — to visit

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