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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: pop · temple · root · chip · roll · spell · arm · field

  1. When was this ________________ built?
  2. We're on a ________________ here.
  3. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  4. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  5. My father caught me by the ________________.
  6. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  7. We're almost out of ________________.
  8. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  9. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  10. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  11. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  12. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  13. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  14. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  15. How do you ________________ your surname?
  16. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  17. You don't need to ________________ round.
  18. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  19. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  20. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  21. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  22. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  23. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  24. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — a place of worship
  2. roll — on a roll
  3. chip — in a computer
  4. temple — side of the head
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. pop — music
  7. pop — soda
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. chip — for betting
  10. roll — a cake
  11. spell — a short time
  12. field — for sport
  13. root — of a word
  14. spell — magic
  15. spell — letters
  16. chip — to eat
  17. pop — to visit
  18. roll — a list
  19. root — of a plant
  20. field — farmland
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. field — a subject
  23. root — the cause
  24. arm — a part of something

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