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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: spell · racket · net · ruler · root · can · prune · rock

  1. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  4. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  5. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  6. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  7. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  11. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  17. How do you ________________ your surname?
  18. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  19. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  20. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  21. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  24. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.

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

Answer key

  1. net — after costs
  2. can — to be able to
  3. spell — magic
  4. prune — to trim
  5. root — of a plant
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. prune — the fruit
  8. can — a tin
  9. rock — a stone
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. spell — a short time
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. rock — music
  14. root — the cause
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. net — in sport
  17. spell — letters
  18. net — for catching
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. racket — a loud noise
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. can — a tin
  23. prune — to trim
  24. root — of a word

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