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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: row · press · fan · patient · root · mouse · cell · mug

  1. He was locked up in a ________________.
  2. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  3. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  4. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  5. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  6. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  7. Where did you ________________ them?
  8. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  11. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  12. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  13. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  14. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  15. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  16. Did you ________________ the button?
  17. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  18. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  19. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  20. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  21. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  22. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  23. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  24. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.

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

Answer key

  1. cell — in a prison
  2. mug — a cup
  3. root — of a word
  4. press — newspapers
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. fan — to cool the air
  7. mug — to rob
  8. mouse — for a computer
  9. mug — a face
  10. root — of a plant
  11. press — a publisher
  12. root — the cause
  13. cell — a phone
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. row — to paddle
  16. press — to push
  17. patient — a sick person
  18. row — a line
  19. cell — in biology
  20. patient — calm and waiting
  21. row — a quarrel
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. patient — a sick person

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