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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.

Make a worksheet

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: bear · mug · perch · mark · date · root · hand · file

  1. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  2. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  3. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  4. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  5. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  6. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  7. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  8. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  9. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. Have you settled on a ________________?
  12. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  15. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  16. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  17. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  20. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  21. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  22. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  23. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  24. He refilled his coffee ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a word
  2. hand — in cards
  3. file — a tool
  4. hand — part of the body
  5. root — of a plant
  6. root — the cause
  7. bear — to put up with
  8. bear — the animal
  9. date — on the calendar
  10. mark — a trace
  11. date — on the calendar
  12. mark — a grade
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. date — the fruit
  15. perch — the fish
  16. file — a document
  17. mug — a face
  18. mug — to rob
  19. perch — for a bird
  20. hand — help
  21. bear — the animal
  22. file — a line of people
  23. perch — for a bird
  24. mug — a cup

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