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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: nail · field · root · branch · coach · snap · racket · mug

  1. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  2. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  3. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  4. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  5. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  6. Have you met the new head ________________?
  7. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  8. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  11. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  12. The ________________ went through the wall.
  13. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  14. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  15. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  16. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  17. Where did you ________________ them?
  18. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  19. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  20. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  21. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  22. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  23. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  24. He hit the ball with his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. root — the cause
  2. root — of a word
  3. coach — pulled by horses
  4. snap — to speak sharply
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. field — for sport
  8. snap — to click
  9. mug — a face
  10. branch — a division
  11. branch — of a tree
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. snap — to snap out of it
  14. racket — a loud noise
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. mug — to rob
  18. field — a subject
  19. nail — on a finger
  20. field — farmland
  21. mug — a cup
  22. branch — of a bank
  23. root — of a plant
  24. racket — for tennis

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