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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
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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: rash · root · object · march · leaves · safe · court · plane

  1. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. Don't do anything ________________.
  5. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  6. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  7. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  8. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  9. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  14. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  15. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  16. The ________________ took off on time.
  17. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. The ball is in your ________________.
  20. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  21. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  24. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a word
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. rash — hasty
  5. court — of law
  6. plane — a tool
  7. march — the month
  8. root — the cause
  9. rash — a series
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. object — to protest
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. root — of a plant
  14. object — a thing
  15. court — of a king
  16. plane — an aircraft
  17. march — the month
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. court — for sport
  20. plane — in geometry
  21. rash — on the skin
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. object — an aim
  24. march — music

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