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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.

Make a worksheet

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: mug · root · straw · saw · temple · ball · trunk · squash

  1. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  3. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  4. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  5. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  6. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  7. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  8. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  9. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  10. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  11. When was this ________________ built?
  12. He works in a ________________ mill.
  13. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  14. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  15. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  16. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  17. Where did you ________________ them?
  18. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  19. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  20. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  21. She's very handy with a ________________.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. The King held a masked ________________.
  24. I'd like to play a game of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. trunk — of a tree
  3. ball — a round shape
  4. straw — dry grass
  5. root — of a word
  6. straw — a straw man
  7. trunk — of an elephant
  8. temple — side of the head
  9. squash — to crush
  10. root — the cause
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. saw — the tool
  13. trunk — of a car
  14. mug — a cup
  15. straw — to clutch at straws
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. mug — to rob
  18. root — of a plant
  19. ball — a great time
  20. squash — the vegetable
  21. saw — the tool
  22. mug — a face
  23. ball — a dance
  24. squash — the 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