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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: ruler · mine · foot · cabinet · mark · root · snap · plane

  1. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  2. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  3. The ________________ took off on time.
  4. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  7. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  10. What do you think of the new ________________?
  11. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  12. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  13. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  16. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  17. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  18. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  19. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  22. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  23. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  24. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a plant
  2. snap — to snap out of it
  3. plane — an aircraft
  4. root — of a word
  5. mark — a grade
  6. plane — in geometry
  7. plane — a tool
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. snap — to click
  12. mine — belonging to me
  13. foot — part of the body
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. root — the cause
  16. mark — a trace
  17. ruler — a monarch
  18. mine — for digging
  19. snap — to speak sharply
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. mine — an explosive
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. foot — the bottom
  24. foot — a measure

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