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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.

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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: root · last · trunk · press · plane · ball · drill · field

  1. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  3. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  4. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  5. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  6. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  7. False peace will not ________________.
  8. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  9. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  10. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  11. The King held a masked ________________.
  12. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  13. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  14. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  15. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  16. The ________________ took off on time.
  17. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  18. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  19. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  20. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  21. Did you ________________ the button?
  22. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  23. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  24. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. trunk — of a tree
  3. drill — a practice
  4. ball — a great time
  5. root — of a plant
  6. root — the cause
  7. last — to go on
  8. trunk — of a car
  9. plane — a tool
  10. field — farmland
  11. ball — a dance
  12. drill — army training
  13. drill — the tool
  14. field — for sport
  15. ball — a round shape
  16. plane — an aircraft
  17. last — finally
  18. trunk — of an elephant
  19. field — a subject
  20. plane — in geometry
  21. press — to push
  22. last — final
  23. press — a publisher
  24. root — of a word

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