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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 116 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 ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  2. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  3. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  4. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  5. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  6. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  7. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  8. The ________________ took off on time.
  9. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  10. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  11. He is an ace ________________.
  12. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  15. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  16. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  17. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  18. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  19. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  20. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  21. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  22. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  23. What do you think of the new ________________?
  24. The ________________ change colour in autumn.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a word
  2. snap — to click
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. plane — a tool
  5. net — after costs
  6. net — in sport
  7. root — of a plant
  8. plane — an aircraft
  9. plane — in geometry
  10. leaves — lets stay
  11. pitcher — in baseball
  12. snap — to snap out of it
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. root — the cause
  15. snap — to speak sharply
  16. net — for catching
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. bank — of a river
  19. bank — for money
  20. cabinet — a cupboard
  21. bank — for money
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. leaves — of a tree

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