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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: ground · mug · spell · leaves · can · cue · fan · root

  1. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  2. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  3. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  4. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. Where did you ________________ them?
  7. There's no middle ________________.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  10. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  13. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  14. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  15. How do you ________________ your surname?
  16. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  20. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  21. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  22. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. Add some ________________ pepper to it.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a signal
  2. cue — a hint
  3. spell — magic
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. mug — a face
  6. mug — to rob
  7. ground — a position
  8. can — to be able to
  9. spell — a short time
  10. root — of a word
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. mug — a cup
  13. fan — to cool the air
  14. ground — the earth
  15. spell — letters
  16. cue — for pool
  17. can — a tin
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. leaves — lets stay
  20. root — of a plant
  21. root — the cause
  22. leaves — of a tree
  23. can — a tin
  24. ground — crushed

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