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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: root · date · prune · squash · hand · fine · cabinet · temple

  1. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  2. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  4. Have you settled on a ________________?
  5. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  6. When was this ________________ built?
  7. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  8. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  9. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  10. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  11. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  16. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  17. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  18. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  19. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  22. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  23. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  24. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.

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

Answer key

  1. root — the cause
  2. fine — high quality
  3. hand — in cards
  4. date — on the calendar
  5. squash — the sport
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. root — of a plant
  8. squash — to crush
  9. fine — a penalty
  10. temple — side of the head
  11. prune — to trim
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. root — of a word
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. prune — the fruit
  16. cabinet — a cupboard
  17. date — on the calendar
  18. hand — help
  19. prune — to trim
  20. fine — all right
  21. hand — part of the body
  22. date — the fruit
  23. squash — the vegetable
  24. temple — a place of worship

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