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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: mate · firm · fall · root · rock · ruler · shower · ground

  1. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  2. There's no middle ________________.
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  5. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  6. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  7. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  11. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  12. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  13. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  14. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  17. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  18. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  19. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  20. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  21. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  22. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  23. Have you found your soul ________________?
  24. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. shower — a meteor shower
  2. ground — a position
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. ground — crushed
  5. mate — to breed
  6. shower — to wash
  7. fall — to drop
  8. rock — a stone
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. firm — decided
  11. mate — a friend
  12. firm — steady
  13. fall — the season
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. rock — music
  16. ruler — a monarch
  17. firm — a company
  18. root — of a word
  19. root — of a plant
  20. fall — to drop
  21. shower — rain
  22. ground — the earth
  23. mate — a partner
  24. root — the cause

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