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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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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 · spell · root · mark · saw · rush · current · game

  1. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  2. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  5. She's very handy with a ________________.
  6. That was a fun ________________.
  7. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  8. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  9. The ________________ went through the wall.
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. How do you ________________ your surname?
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  17. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  18. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  19. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  22. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  23. He works in a ________________ mill.
  24. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a plant
  2. current — electric
  3. mark — a trace
  4. spell — magic
  5. saw — the tool
  6. game — a match
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. nail — on a finger
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. current — of water
  11. spell — a short time
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. mark — a grade
  14. spell — letters
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. root — of a word
  17. game — a kind of play
  18. saw — past of 'see'
  19. rush — to hurry
  20. rush — hurry
  21. game — wild animals
  22. current — happening now
  23. saw — the tool
  24. root — the cause

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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