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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: sharp · squash · roll · stem · key · mouse · root · saw

  1. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  4. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  8. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  9. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  10. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  11. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  12. He works in a ________________ mill.
  13. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  14. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  15. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  16. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  17. We're on a ________________ here.
  18. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  19. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. It's one o'clock ________________.
  22. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  23. She's very handy with a ________________.
  24. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — for a computer
  2. root — of a plant
  3. saw — past of 'see'
  4. stem — to come from
  5. key — in music
  6. key — the most important part
  7. squash — to crush
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. stem — a stem cell
  10. roll — a list
  11. root — of a word
  12. saw — the tool
  13. roll — a cake
  14. sharp — with an edge
  15. squash — the sport
  16. sharp — clever
  17. roll — on a roll
  18. stem — of a plant
  19. root — the cause
  20. key — for a lock
  21. sharp — exactly
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. saw — the tool
  24. squash — the vegetable

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