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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: can · last · vault · patient · stock · lie · root · sharp

  1. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  2. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  3. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  4. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  5. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  8. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  9. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  10. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  11. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  14. False peace will not ________________.
  15. It's one o'clock ________________.
  16. The ________________ market has crashed.
  17. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  18. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  19. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  20. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  21. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  22. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a plant
  2. vault — an arched ceiling
  3. root — the cause
  4. patient — calm and waiting
  5. sharp — clever
  6. can — a tin
  7. root — of a word
  8. last — finally
  9. sharp — with an edge
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. lie — to recline
  12. can — a tin
  13. stock — a soup base
  14. last — to go on
  15. sharp — exactly
  16. stock — shares
  17. stock — goods
  18. vault — a safe
  19. last — final
  20. vault — in gymnastics
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. patient — a sick person
  23. can — to be able to
  24. patient — a sick person

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