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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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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: jam · snap · root · net · pound · leaves · ruler · can

  1. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  2. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  3. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  6. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  7. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  11. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  12. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  13. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  14. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  15. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  16. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  17. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  18. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  19. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  20. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  21. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  22. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. What was your ________________ profit last year?

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — a monarch
  2. root — the cause
  3. snap — to speak sharply
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. pound — a weight
  6. root — of a word
  7. jam — in traffic
  8. can — a tin
  9. can — a tin
  10. leaves — lets stay
  11. net — in sport
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. pound — to hit hard
  14. pound — for dogs
  15. root — of a plant
  16. net — for catching
  17. snap — to snap out of it
  18. jam — a tight spot
  19. jam — to spread on bread
  20. snap — to click
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. leaves — of a tree
  23. can — to be able to
  24. net — after costs

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