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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: temple · field · can · hide · rest · scale · stand · root

  1. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  2. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  3. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  4. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  7. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  8. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  9. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  10. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  11. I can't ________________ this cold.
  12. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  13. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  14. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  15. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  16. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  17. When was this ________________ built?
  18. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  23. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  24. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. root — the cause
  3. scale — in music
  4. field — a subject
  5. can — to be able to
  6. rest — a break
  7. root — of a word
  8. temple — side of the head
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. stand — for spectators
  11. stand — to bear
  12. root — of a plant
  13. field — for sport
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. stand — on your feet
  16. rest — what's left
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. scale — size or range
  19. can — a tin
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. can — a tin
  22. scale — for weighing
  23. field — farmland
  24. hide — animal skin

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