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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: can · cap · rash · root · pitcher · racket · dip · mate

  1. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  2. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  5. He is an ace ________________.
  6. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  9. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  10. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  11. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  12. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  13. Have you found your soul ________________?
  14. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  15. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  16. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  17. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  18. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  19. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  20. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  21. Don't do anything ________________.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  24. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. can — to be able to
  4. racket — for tennis
  5. pitcher — in baseball
  6. root — the cause
  7. can — a tin
  8. mate — a friend
  9. dip — a sauce
  10. rash — a series
  11. racket — for tennis
  12. mate — to breed
  13. mate — a partner
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. rash — on the skin
  16. cap — of ice
  17. cap — a lid
  18. racket — a loud noise
  19. cap — a hat
  20. root — of a plant
  21. rash — hasty
  22. can — a tin
  23. dip — to dunk
  24. root — of a word

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