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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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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: branch · nail · prune · bulb · bank · rest · shower · root

  1. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  2. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  3. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  4. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  5. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  6. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  7. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  8. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  9. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  12. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  13. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  14. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  15. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  16. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  17. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  18. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  21. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  22. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  23. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  24. The ________________ went through the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a word
  2. prune — to trim
  3. bank — for money
  4. root — of a plant
  5. shower — a meteor shower
  6. rest — what's left
  7. root — the cause
  8. shower — rain
  9. rest — a break
  10. bulb — for light
  11. prune — the fruit
  12. branch — a division
  13. rest — what's left
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. bulb — of a plant
  16. branch — of a bank
  17. branch — of a tree
  18. bank — of a river
  19. bulb — for light
  20. prune — to trim
  21. shower — to wash
  22. bank — for money
  23. nail — on a finger
  24. nail — for a hammer

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