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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: root · jam · plane · chest · rush · temple · face · tube

  1. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  2. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  3. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  4. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  5. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  6. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  7. When was this ________________ built?
  8. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  9. The ________________ took off on time.
  10. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  11. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  12. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  13. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  16. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  17. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  18. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  19. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  20. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. I'll be taking the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a plant
  2. chest — of your body
  3. tube — a container
  4. rush — hurry
  5. jam — in traffic
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. temple — side of the head
  9. plane — an aircraft
  10. tube — in a tire
  11. face — to confront
  12. plane — in geometry
  13. face — part of the head
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. chest — of your body
  16. root — the cause
  17. plane — a tool
  18. jam — a tight spot
  19. chest — a box
  20. root — of a word
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. face — to point toward
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. tube — the underground

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