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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
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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: root · pitch · can · wake · mark · saw · branch · rest

  1. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  2. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  3. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  4. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  7. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  8. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  9. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  10. He works in a ________________ mill.
  11. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  12. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  13. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  14. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  15. She's very handy with a ________________.
  16. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  17. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  20. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  21. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  24. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.

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

Answer key

  1. root — the cause
  2. wake — a trail
  3. rest — a break
  4. branch — a division
  5. can — to be able to
  6. branch — of a bank
  7. pitch — completely
  8. mark — a trace
  9. rest — what's left
  10. saw — the tool
  11. wake — to stop sleeping
  12. wake — before a funeral
  13. root — of a word
  14. pitch — a sports field
  15. saw — the tool
  16. root — of a plant
  17. saw — past of 'see'
  18. can — a tin
  19. mark — to pay attention
  20. branch — of a tree
  21. mark — a grade
  22. can — a tin
  23. pitch — a sales talk
  24. rest — what's left

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