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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
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: board · root · lash · hide · leaves · rock · fan · game

  1. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  2. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  3. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  4. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  5. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  6. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  7. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  8. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  9. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  10. That was a fun ________________.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  13. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  14. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  15. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  16. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  19. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  20. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  21. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.

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

Answer key

  1. game — a kind of play
  2. board — a committee
  3. rock — music
  4. root — of a word
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. hide — animal skin
  7. lash — a whip stroke
  8. board — a flat piece
  9. root — of a plant
  10. game — a match
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. root — the cause
  13. rock — to move gently
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. fan — to cool the air
  16. game — wild animals
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. lash — to lash out
  20. lash — an eyelash
  21. rock — a stone
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. board — to get on

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