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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 tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  2. Have you met the new head ________________?
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  8. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  9. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  10. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  11. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  12. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  13. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  14. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  15. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  19. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  20. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  21. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  22. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  23. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  24. The elephant has a huge ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a tree
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. root — the cause
  6. rock — music
  7. leaves — lets stay
  8. pass — a permit
  9. march — the month
  10. rock — a stone
  11. pass — to succeed
  12. wax — in the ear
  13. march — the month
  14. trunk — of a car
  15. root — of a plant
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. wax — to grow
  19. coach — pulled by horses
  20. wax — for sculpting
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. march — music
  23. root — of a word
  24. trunk — of an elephant

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