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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: rash · root · pass · squash · fork · fan · lean · firm

  1. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  2. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  3. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  4. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  5. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  6. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  9. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  10. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  11. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  12. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  13. Don't do anything ________________.
  14. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  21. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  22. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  23. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  24. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — steady
  2. fork — in a road
  3. lean — thin
  4. firm — a company
  5. rash — on the skin
  6. fork — a garden tool
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. rash — a series
  9. squash — the sport
  10. root — of a word
  11. lean — to rest against
  12. firm — decided
  13. rash — hasty
  14. root — of a plant
  15. pass — a permit
  16. root — the cause
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. fan — to cool the air
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. squash — the vegetable
  21. fork — to eat with
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. lean — to bend
  24. squash — to crush

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