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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: root · mug · cap · calf · toast · stem · fan · bear

  1. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  2. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  3. Where did you ________________ them?
  4. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  5. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  6. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  7. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  8. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  9. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  10. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  11. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  12. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  13. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  14. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  15. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  16. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  17. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  18. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  19. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  20. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  21. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  24. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. stem — a stem cell
  3. mug — to rob
  4. cap — a lid
  5. root — of a plant
  6. toast — the most admired
  7. toast — a drink to someone
  8. stem — of a plant
  9. root — the cause
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. bear — the animal
  12. fan — to cool the air
  13. cap — a hat
  14. root — of a word
  15. calf — of the leg
  16. stem — to come from
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. mug — a face
  19. toast — bread
  20. cap — of ice
  21. mug — a cup
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. bear — to put up with
  24. calf — a young animal

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