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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 · stick · wake · toast · mine · staff · fine · can

  1. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  4. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  7. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  8. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  9. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  10. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  11. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  12. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  13. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  14. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  15. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  18. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  19. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  20. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  23. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  24. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — a stick
  2. root — of a plant
  3. toast — the most admired
  4. root — of a word
  5. can — a tin
  6. toast — bread
  7. stick — to attach or keep to
  8. fine — high quality
  9. mine — for digging
  10. fine — a penalty
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. wake — a trail
  13. staff — employees
  14. wake — before a funeral
  15. fine — all right
  16. can — to be able to
  17. mine — belonging to me
  18. wake — to stop sleeping
  19. root — the cause
  20. toast — a drink to someone
  21. can — a tin
  22. staff — employees
  23. mine — an explosive
  24. stick — a piece of wood

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