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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.

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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: coach · foot · can · rush · prune · nail · fan · root

  1. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  2. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  3. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  6. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  7. The ________________ went through the wall.
  8. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  9. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  10. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  11. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  12. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  13. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. Have you met the new head ________________?
  16. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  19. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  20. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  21. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  22. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — part of the body
  2. root — the cause
  3. root — of a plant
  4. can — a tin
  5. rush — hurry
  6. foot — the bottom
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. prune — to trim
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. root — of a word
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. fan — to cool the air
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. coach — pulled by horses
  17. can — a tin
  18. prune — to trim
  19. nail — on a finger
  20. foot — a measure
  21. prune — the fruit
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. can — to be able to
  24. rush — to hurry

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