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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: bass · leaves · root · cabinet · bark · rock · prune · swing

  1. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  3. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  4. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  5. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  6. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. David sat on the ________________.
  11. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  12. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  16. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  17. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  21. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  24. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. bass — the instrument
  3. prune — to trim
  4. root — of a word
  5. bark — to shout
  6. root — the cause
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. swing — to play on
  11. prune — to trim
  12. bass — low music
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. root — of a plant
  16. swing — music
  17. bark — a dog's sound
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. rock — music
  20. prune — the fruit
  21. bass — the fish
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. swing — in golf
  24. bark — of a tree

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