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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 120 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: root · squash · nail · hand · straw · rock · prune · suit

  1. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  2. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  3. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  4. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  5. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  6. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  9. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  10. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  11. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  12. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  13. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  14. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  15. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  16. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  17. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  18. When will it ________________ you to start?
  19. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  20. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  21. The ________________ went through the wall.
  22. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  23. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a word
  2. straw — to clutch at straws
  3. squash — the vegetable
  4. root — of a plant
  5. rock — to move gently
  6. hand — help
  7. suit — in cards
  8. straw — dry grass
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. squash — the sport
  11. hand — in cards
  12. prune — to trim
  13. suit — clothes
  14. rock — a stone
  15. squash — to crush
  16. prune — the fruit
  17. root — the cause
  18. suit — to fit
  19. hand — part of the body
  20. nail — on a finger
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. straw — a straw man
  23. prune — to trim
  24. rock — music

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