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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.

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: wax · suit · stick · cabinet · rush · root · perch · field

  1. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  2. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  3. What do you think of the new ________________?
  4. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  5. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  6. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  10. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  11. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  14. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  17. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  18. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  21. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  22. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  23. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  24. When will it ________________ you to start?

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

Answer key

  1. field — for sport
  2. root — of a word
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. stick — to attach or keep to
  5. rush — hurry
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. wax — to grow
  10. field — farmland
  11. field — a subject
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. perch — the fish
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. wax — for sculpting
  17. stick — a piece of wood
  18. root — the cause
  19. suit — in cards
  20. wax — in the ear
  21. suit — clothes
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. root — of a plant
  24. suit — to fit

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