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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: track · root · can · ball · fan · lean · mouse · cell

  1. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  2. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  3. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  4. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  5. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  6. He was locked up in a ________________.
  7. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  8. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  13. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  14. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  15. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  16. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  19. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  20. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  21. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  22. The King held a masked ________________.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cell — in biology
  2. track — to keep track
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. cell — a phone
  5. lean — thin
  6. cell — in a prison
  7. ball — a great time
  8. ball — a round shape
  9. can — a tin
  10. root — of a word
  11. can — a tin
  12. root — of a plant
  13. track — a song
  14. root — the cause
  15. lean — to bend
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. lean — to rest against
  19. mouse — for a computer
  20. track — a path
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. ball — a dance
  23. can — to be able to
  24. mouse — the 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