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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.

Make a worksheet

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
468
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: pitcher · fork · rash · bass · roll · mug · root · rest

  1. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  2. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  3. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  4. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  5. We're on a ________________ here.
  6. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  7. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  8. Don't do anything ________________.
  9. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  10. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  11. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  12. He is an ace ________________.
  13. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  14. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  15. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  16. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  17. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  18. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  19. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  22. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.

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

Answer key

  1. root — the cause
  2. rash — on the skin
  3. fork — in a road
  4. rest — what's left
  5. roll — on a roll
  6. roll — a list
  7. root — of a plant
  8. rash — hasty
  9. bass — low music
  10. rest — a break
  11. rest — what's left
  12. pitcher — in baseball
  13. root — of a word
  14. mug — a cup
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. bass — the fish
  17. roll — a cake
  18. fork — a garden tool
  19. fork — to eat with
  20. mug — to rob
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. bass — the instrument
  23. mug — a face
  24. rash — a series

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