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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: saw · staff · squash · fan · coach · bear · mouse · root

  1. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  4. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  5. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  6. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  7. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  8. Have you met the new head ________________?
  9. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  10. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  11. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  12. She's very handy with a ________________.
  13. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  14. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  15. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  16. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  17. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  18. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  19. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  20. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. He works in a ________________ mill.
  23. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  24. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — to put up with
  2. root — of a plant
  3. staff — employees
  4. staff — employees
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. bear — the animal
  7. squash — the vegetable
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. root — of a word
  10. squash — the sport
  11. root — the cause
  12. saw — the tool
  13. mouse — for a computer
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. coach — pulled by horses
  16. saw — past of 'see'
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. squash — to crush
  19. fan — to cool the air
  20. bear — the animal
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. saw — the tool
  23. staff — a stick
  24. coach — a trainer

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