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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.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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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 ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  2. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  3. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  6. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  7. My father caught me by the ________________.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  10. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  11. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  12. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  13. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  14. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  15. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  16. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  17. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  18. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  19. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  20. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  21. My mare is ________________ in color.
  22. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  23. When are we going to ________________?
  24. I have a corn on my right ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a plant
  2. bowl — to roll
  3. land — a country
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. foot — the bottom
  6. root — the cause
  7. arm — part of the body
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. bay — a part of the sea
  10. root — of a word
  11. arm — a part of something
  12. bowl — a football final
  13. land — ground
  14. bay — to keep at bay
  15. fall — the season
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. bowl — a dish
  18. foot — a measure
  19. leaves — lets stay
  20. fall — to drop
  21. bay — a horse colour
  22. fall — to drop
  23. land — to come down
  24. foot — part of the body

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