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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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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 · staff · pass · bound · hand · bay · tube · lean

  1. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  2. That was ________________ to happen.
  3. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  4. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  5. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  6. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  7. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  8. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  9. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  10. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  11. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  12. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  15. My mare is ________________ in color.
  16. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  17. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  18. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  19. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  20. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  21. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  22. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  23. I'll be taking the ________________.
  24. He is as ________________ as a wolf.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a word
  2. bound — certain
  3. hand — part of the body
  4. bay — to keep at bay
  5. pass — to succeed
  6. lean — to bend
  7. bound — obliged
  8. staff — a stick
  9. staff — employees
  10. pass — a permit
  11. root — of a plant
  12. pass — to spend time
  13. bound — tied together
  14. root — the cause
  15. bay — a horse colour
  16. bay — a part of the sea
  17. hand — help
  18. tube — a container
  19. hand — in cards
  20. tube — in a tire
  21. staff — employees
  22. lean — to rest against
  23. tube — the underground
  24. lean — thin

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