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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: fan · suit · ground · tube · root · leaves · squash · pass

  1. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  8. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  9. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  10. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  11. There's no middle ________________.
  12. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  13. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. I'll be taking the ________________.
  16. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  17. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  22. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  23. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  24. Add some ________________ pepper to it.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. root — the cause
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. root — of a word
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. pass — a permit
  8. suit — in cards
  9. tube — a container
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. ground — a position
  12. pass — to succeed
  13. squash — the sport
  14. suit — to fit
  15. tube — the underground
  16. root — of a plant
  17. squash — the vegetable
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. tube — in a tire
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. fan — to cool the air
  22. ground — the earth
  23. squash — to crush
  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