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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.

Make a worksheet

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
YesNo
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: leaves · foot · bulb · root · racket · fan · stem · coach

  1. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  2. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  3. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  6. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  7. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  8. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  9. Have you met the new head ________________?
  10. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  11. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  12. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  16. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  19. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  20. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  24. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — for tennis
  2. stem — a stem cell
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. coach — pulled by horses
  6. foot — part of the body
  7. root — of a plant
  8. fan — to cool the air
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. root — of a word
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. racket — a loud noise
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. stem — of a plant
  19. stem — to come from
  20. foot — the bottom
  21. bulb — for light
  22. bulb — for light
  23. root — the cause
  24. foot — a measure

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