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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: fall · cue · deal · leaves · can · root · branch · snap

  1. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  2. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  3. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  8. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  9. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  12. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  15. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  16. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  17. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  18. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  19. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  20. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  21. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  22. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  23. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  24. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — to handle
  2. deal — a big deal
  3. root — the cause
  4. can — to be able to
  5. leaves — lets stay
  6. can — a tin
  7. fall — to drop
  8. snap — to speak sharply
  9. branch — a division
  10. can — a tin
  11. cue — for pool
  12. branch — of a bank
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. fall — to drop
  15. fall — the season
  16. branch — of a tree
  17. cue — a hint
  18. root — of a plant
  19. snap — to snap out of it
  20. deal — an agreement
  21. leaves — of a tree
  22. root — of a word
  23. snap — to click
  24. cue — a signal

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