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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: bound · mark · temple · perch · stem · date · root · wax

  1. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  6. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  7. That was ________________ to happen.
  8. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  9. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. Have you settled on a ________________?
  12. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  13. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  14. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  15. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  16. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  17. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  18. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  19. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. When was this ________________ built?
  22. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  23. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  24. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a word
  2. root — of a plant
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. mark — a grade
  5. stem — a stem cell
  6. temple — side of the head
  7. bound — certain
  8. root — the cause
  9. wax — for sculpting
  10. mark — a trace
  11. date — on the calendar
  12. perch — the fish
  13. stem — of a plant
  14. wax — to grow
  15. date — on the calendar
  16. bound — obliged
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. wax — in the ear
  19. stem — to come from
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. date — the fruit
  24. bound — tied together

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