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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 116 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: fan · root · suit · row · tube · can · coach · wind

  1. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  2. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. Have you met the new head ________________?
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  9. I'll be taking the ________________.
  10. When will it ________________ you to start?
  11. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  12. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  13. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  14. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  15. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  16. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  17. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  18. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  19. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  20. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  24. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.

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

Answer key

  1. row — to paddle
  2. coach — pulled by horses
  3. can — a tin
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. suit — clothes
  6. tube — a container
  7. can — a tin
  8. root — the cause
  9. tube — the underground
  10. suit — to fit
  11. wind — moving air
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. tube — in a tire
  14. wind — to turn a key
  15. root — of a word
  16. suit — in cards
  17. root — of a plant
  18. wind — moving air
  19. fan — to cool the air
  20. row — a line
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. can — to be able to
  23. row — a quarrel
  24. fan — a supporter

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