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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: leaves · root · stem · saw · pass · stand · rest · arm

  1. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  2. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  6. He works in a ________________ mill.
  7. My father caught me by the ________________.
  8. She's very handy with a ________________.
  9. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  10. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  11. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  12. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  13. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  14. I can't ________________ this cold.
  15. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  16. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  17. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  18. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  19. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  20. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  21. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  22. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  23. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  24. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — part of the body
  2. rest — what's left
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. arm — a part of something
  6. saw — the tool
  7. arm — part of the body
  8. saw — the tool
  9. pass — to succeed
  10. stem — a stem cell
  11. pass — a permit
  12. stand — for spectators
  13. pass — to spend time
  14. stand — to bear
  15. root — of a word
  16. rest — a break
  17. stand — on your feet
  18. stem — to come from
  19. leaves — of a tree
  20. rest — what's left
  21. root — of a plant
  22. root — the cause
  23. stem — of a plant
  24. saw — past of 'see'

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