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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: prune · face · root · cabinet · deal · fine · shower · object

  1. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  2. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  3. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  4. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  5. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  6. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  7. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  8. What do you think of the new ________________?
  9. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  10. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  11. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  12. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  13. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  14. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  15. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  16. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  17. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  18. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  19. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  20. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  21. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  22. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  23. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  24. A ________________ is just a dried plum.

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

Answer key

  1. shower — rain
  2. deal — an agreement
  3. deal — to handle
  4. face — to point toward
  5. root — the cause
  6. fine — a penalty
  7. fine — all right
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. object — to protest
  10. root — of a plant
  11. object — a thing
  12. root — of a word
  13. fine — high quality
  14. cabinet — a cupboard
  15. face — part of the head
  16. deal — a big deal
  17. shower — to wash
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. face — to confront
  20. prune — to trim
  21. prune — to trim
  22. shower — a meteor shower
  23. object — an aim
  24. prune — the fruit

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