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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: can · root · field · perch · object · fan · rush · vault

  1. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  5. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  6. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  7. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  8. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  11. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  12. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  13. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  16. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  19. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  20. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  21. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  24. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a word
  2. can — a tin
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. field — a subject
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. root — of a plant
  7. vault — in gymnastics
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. vault — a safe
  11. fan — to cool the air
  12. field — for sport
  13. perch — the fish
  14. rush — hurry
  15. perch — for a bird
  16. vault — an arched ceiling
  17. can — to be able to
  18. field — farmland
  19. object — to protest
  20. object — an aim
  21. object — a thing
  22. can — a tin
  23. root — the cause
  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