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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 · fall · can · temple · arm · staff · ruler · pitcher

  1. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  2. My father caught me by the ________________.
  3. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  4. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  7. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  8. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  9. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  12. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  13. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  14. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  15. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  16. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  17. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  18. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  19. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  20. He is an ace ________________.
  21. When was this ________________ built?
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — a jug
  2. arm — part of the body
  3. root — the cause
  4. staff — employees
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. root — of a plant
  8. arm — a part of something
  9. staff — a stick
  10. can — a tin
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. temple — side of the head
  13. root — of a word
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. staff — employees
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. fall — to drop
  18. fall — to drop
  19. ruler — a monarch
  20. pitcher — in baseball
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. can — to be able to
  23. can — a tin
  24. fall — the season

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