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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: toast · squash · jam · bass · root · pass · plane · perch

  1. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  2. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  3. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  4. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  5. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  8. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  9. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  10. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  11. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  12. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  13. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  14. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  15. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  16. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  17. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  18. The ________________ took off on time.
  19. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  20. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  21. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  22. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  23. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  24. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a plant
  2. root — of a word
  3. plane — in geometry
  4. perch — the fish
  5. root — the cause
  6. pass — a permit
  7. toast — the most admired
  8. squash — to crush
  9. jam — to spread on bread
  10. toast — a drink to someone
  11. bass — low music
  12. jam — a tight spot
  13. pass — to spend time
  14. squash — the sport
  15. pass — to succeed
  16. bass — the fish
  17. jam — in traffic
  18. plane — an aircraft
  19. squash — the vegetable
  20. plane — a tool
  21. perch — for a bird
  22. bass — the instrument
  23. perch — for a bird
  24. toast — bread

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