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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: nail · root · mine · game · plane · firm · fine · rock

  1. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  4. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  5. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  6. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  9. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  10. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  11. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  12. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. The ________________ took off on time.
  15. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  16. The ________________ went through the wall.
  17. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  18. That was a fun ________________.
  19. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  20. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  23. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  24. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a word
  2. rock — a stone
  3. fine — a penalty
  4. mine — an explosive
  5. firm — steady
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. mine — belonging to me
  9. root — the cause
  10. plane — in geometry
  11. firm — decided
  12. plane — a tool
  13. fine — all right
  14. plane — an aircraft
  15. firm — a company
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. game — a kind of play
  18. game — a match
  19. mine — for digging
  20. fine — high quality
  21. rock — music
  22. game — wild animals
  23. nail — on a finger
  24. root — of a plant

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