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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.

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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: cue · temple · can · root · last · season · mug · dip

  1. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. When was this ________________ built?
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  7. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  8. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  11. Did you ________________ the meat?
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  14. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  15. False peace will not ________________.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  18. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  19. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  20. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  21. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  22. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  23. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  24. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!

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

Answer key

  1. last — finally
  2. root — of a plant
  3. can — a tin
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. can — to be able to
  6. season — of the year
  7. dip — to sink
  8. cue — a hint
  9. mug — a face
  10. mug — a cup
  11. season — to add flavour
  12. mug — to rob
  13. root — the cause
  14. cue — for pool
  15. last — to go on
  16. can — a tin
  17. season — in sport
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. dip — a sauce
  20. dip — to dunk
  21. temple — side of the head
  22. cue — a signal
  23. root — of a word
  24. last — final

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