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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: root · perch · vault · suit · club · temple · saw · date

  1. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. When will it ________________ you to start?
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  6. When was this ________________ built?
  7. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  8. He works in a ________________ mill.
  9. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  10. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  11. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  12. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  13. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  14. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  15. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  16. Have you settled on a ________________?
  17. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  18. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  19. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  22. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  23. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  24. She's very handy with a ________________.

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 plant
  3. suit — to fit
  4. suit — clothes
  5. vault — a safe
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. perch — the fish
  8. saw — the tool
  9. date — the fruit
  10. root — of a word
  11. perch — for a bird
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. vault — in gymnastics
  15. saw — past of 'see'
  16. date — on the calendar
  17. club — for dancing
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. vault — an arched ceiling
  20. suit — in cards
  21. club — a group
  22. temple — side of the head
  23. club — for golf
  24. saw — the tool

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