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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 116 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: root · deal · can · calf · pass · wake · snap · bass

  1. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  2. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  3. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  4. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  5. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  8. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  9. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  12. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  13. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  14. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  15. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  16. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  17. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  18. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  23. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  24. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — to stop sleeping
  2. deal — an agreement
  3. wake — before a funeral
  4. root — of a word
  5. deal — a big deal
  6. pass — a permit
  7. pass — to succeed
  8. snap — to snap out of it
  9. root — the cause
  10. can — to be able to
  11. root — of a plant
  12. bass — the instrument
  13. snap — to click
  14. snap — to speak sharply
  15. calf — of the leg
  16. wake — a trail
  17. bass — the fish
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. can — a tin
  20. pass — to spend time
  21. can — a tin
  22. bass — low music
  23. deal — to handle
  24. calf — a young animal

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