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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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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: scale · foot · root · coach · perch · pop · rock · spell

  1. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  2. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  3. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  4. Have you met the new head ________________?
  5. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  6. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  7. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  8. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  9. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  10. How do you ________________ your surname?
  11. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  12. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  15. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  16. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  17. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. You don't need to ________________ round.
  20. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  21. We're almost out of ________________.
  22. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  23. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  24. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.

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

Answer key

  1. root — the cause
  2. perch — the fish
  3. foot — part of the body
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. pop — music
  6. scale — for weighing
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. root — of a plant
  9. spell — magic
  10. spell — letters
  11. scale — in music
  12. foot — a measure
  13. rock — a stone
  14. scale — size or range
  15. perch — for a bird
  16. spell — a short time
  17. foot — the bottom
  18. rock — music
  19. pop — to visit
  20. rock — to move gently
  21. pop — soda
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. coach — pulled by horses
  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