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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'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  5. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  6. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  7. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  8. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  9. Have you met the new head ________________?
  10. False peace will not ________________.
  11. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  12. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  15. What do you think of the new ________________?
  16. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  19. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  20. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  21. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  22. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  23. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  24. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. foot — part of the body
  5. bore — gave birth
  6. cabinet — a cupboard
  7. last — final
  8. bore — to tire
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. last — to go on
  11. root — of a word
  12. coach — pulled by horses
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. bore — to drill
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. root — the cause
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. last — finally
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. bank — for money
  21. foot — a measure
  22. foot — the bottom
  23. root — of a plant
  24. bank — of a river

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