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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.

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: bank · racket · wake · lash · fan · mark · root · spring

  1. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  3. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  4. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  7. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  8. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  9. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  10. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  11. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  12. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  13. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  14. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  15. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  16. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  17. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  18. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  19. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  20. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  21. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  22. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  23. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  24. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. mark — to pay attention
  3. root — of a word
  4. spring — of water
  5. mark — a grade
  6. root — the cause
  7. bank — for money
  8. spring — the season
  9. fan — to cool the air
  10. wake — before a funeral
  11. root — of a plant
  12. spring — a coil
  13. lash — to lash out
  14. lash — an eyelash
  15. lash — a whip stroke
  16. wake — to stop sleeping
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. wake — a trail
  19. bank — for money
  20. bank — of a river
  21. racket — for tennis
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. racket — a loud noise
  24. racket — for tennis

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