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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. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  4. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. Have you met the new head ________________?
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. I can't ________________ this cold.
  11. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  12. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  13. The ________________ took off on time.
  14. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  15. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  16. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  19. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  22. That was a fun ________________.
  23. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  24. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a hint
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. game — wild animals
  4. root — of a plant
  5. current — of water
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. current — happening now
  9. current — electric
  10. stand — to bear
  11. cue — a signal
  12. root — of a word
  13. plane — an aircraft
  14. coach — pulled by horses
  15. cue — for pool
  16. plane — a tool
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. stand — on your feet
  19. root — the cause
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. plane — in geometry
  22. game — a match
  23. game — a kind of play
  24. coach — a trainer

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