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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: foot · cue · trunk · can · present · board · root · dip

  1. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  2. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  6. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  7. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  8. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  9. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  10. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  11. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  12. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  15. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  16. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  17. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  18. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  19. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  20. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  21. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  22. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  23. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  24. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a word
  2. dip — to sink
  3. can — a tin
  4. can — a tin
  5. board — to get on
  6. board — a committee
  7. cue — a hint
  8. foot — a measure
  9. foot — the bottom
  10. dip — to dunk
  11. root — of a plant
  12. trunk — of an elephant
  13. can — to be able to
  14. dip — a sauce
  15. present — a gift
  16. trunk — of a tree
  17. board — a flat piece
  18. trunk — of a car
  19. root — the cause
  20. cue — for pool
  21. present — there
  22. present — the time now
  23. foot — part of the body
  24. cue — a signal

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