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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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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: bay · jam · bank · root · fan · toast · plane · snap

  1. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  2. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  3. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  4. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  5. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  6. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  7. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  8. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  9. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  10. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  11. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  12. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  13. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  14. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  15. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  16. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  17. My mare is ________________ in color.
  18. The ________________ took off on time.
  19. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  20. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  21. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  22. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  23. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  24. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — a supporter
  2. root — the cause
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. root — of a plant
  5. snap — to speak sharply
  6. bay — to keep at bay
  7. bank — of a river
  8. jam — a tight spot
  9. fan — to cool the air
  10. plane — in geometry
  11. jam — to spread on bread
  12. toast — a drink to someone
  13. root — of a word
  14. bank — for money
  15. plane — a tool
  16. toast — the most admired
  17. bay — a horse colour
  18. plane — an aircraft
  19. snap — to click
  20. toast — bread
  21. bank — for money
  22. bay — a part of the sea
  23. jam — in traffic
  24. snap — to snap out of it

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