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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.

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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. He was locked up in a ________________.
  3. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  4. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  5. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  6. Have you met the new head ________________?
  7. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  8. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  9. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  10. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  11. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  12. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  13. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  14. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  15. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  16. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  19. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  20. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  21. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  22. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  23. The King held a masked ________________.
  24. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. cell — in a prison
  3. leaves — to go away
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. root — of a word
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. root — of a plant
  8. staff — a stick
  9. board — a committee
  10. root — the cause
  11. fan — to cool the air
  12. cell — in biology
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. staff — employees
  15. board — a flat piece
  16. staff — employees
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. ball — a great time
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. coach — pulled by horses
  21. cell — a phone
  22. ball — a round shape
  23. ball — a dance
  24. board — to get on

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