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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: object · pitcher · rest · nail · can · root · content · bat

  1. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  2. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  3. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  4. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  5. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  6. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. He is an ace ________________.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. The ________________ went through the wall.
  12. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  13. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  14. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  15. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  16. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  17. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  18. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  19. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  20. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  21. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  22. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  23. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  24. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a word
  2. object — a thing
  3. nail — on a finger
  4. rest — what's left
  5. object — an aim
  6. bat — the animal
  7. can — a tin
  8. pitcher — in baseball
  9. can — to be able to
  10. can — a tin
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. content — videos and posts
  14. root — the cause
  15. rest — a break
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. content — the amount
  18. object — to protest
  19. bat — in an idiom
  20. content — happy
  21. root — of a plant
  22. bat — for baseball
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. rest — what's left

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