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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 120 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 in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  3. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  4. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  7. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  10. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  11. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  12. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  13. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  16. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  17. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  18. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  19. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  22. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. The ________________ took off on time.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. lean — to bend
  3. leaves — to go away
  4. bass — the instrument
  5. bound — certain
  6. root — of a plant
  7. lean — to rest against
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. bound — tied together
  10. plane — in geometry
  11. root — the cause
  12. scale — size or range
  13. scale — in music
  14. key — in music
  15. lean — thin
  16. bound — obliged
  17. plane — a tool
  18. bass — the fish
  19. root — of a word
  20. key — the most important part
  21. bass — low music
  22. scale — for weighing
  23. key — for a lock
  24. plane — an aircraft

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