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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: branch · root · coach · object · track · straw · fine · hide

  1. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  4. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  5. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  6. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  7. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  8. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  9. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  10. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  11. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  12. Have you met the new head ________________?
  13. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  14. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  15. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  16. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  17. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  18. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  19. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  20. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  21. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  22. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  23. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  24. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — to keep secret
  2. root — of a plant
  3. object — a thing
  4. fine — all right
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. root — the cause
  7. branch — a division
  8. straw — dry grass
  9. straw — a straw man
  10. branch — of a tree
  11. track — a path
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. coach — pulled by horses
  14. track — to keep track
  15. hide — animal skin
  16. track — a song
  17. fine — a penalty
  18. object — to protest
  19. branch — of a bank
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. fine — high quality
  22. root — of a word
  23. object — an aim
  24. straw — to clutch at straws

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