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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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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 · rule · net · mouse · snap · branch · tube · fine

  1. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  2. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  3. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  4. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  5. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  6. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  7. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  8. I'll be taking the ________________.
  9. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  10. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  11. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  12. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  13. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  14. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  15. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  16. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  17. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  18. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  19. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  20. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  21. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  22. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  23. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  24. The ball hit the back of the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a word
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. root — of a plant
  4. net — for catching
  5. snap — to click
  6. branch — a division
  7. tube — in a tire
  8. tube — the underground
  9. rule — to rule out
  10. mouse — for a computer
  11. rule — government
  12. net — after costs
  13. fine — a penalty
  14. branch — of a bank
  15. tube — a container
  16. fine — high quality
  17. fine — all right
  18. rule — a law
  19. snap — to speak sharply
  20. root — the cause
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. snap — to snap out of it
  23. branch — of a tree
  24. net — in sport

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