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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: safe · stem · bass · hide · trunk · foot · root · season

  1. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. Did you ________________ the meat?
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  6. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  7. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  8. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  9. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  10. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  11. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  12. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  13. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  14. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  17. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  18. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  19. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  20. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  21. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  22. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  23. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  24. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of an elephant
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. season — to add flavour
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. foot — the bottom
  6. foot — part of the body
  7. bass — the instrument
  8. foot — a measure
  9. bass — the fish
  10. season — in sport
  11. hide — animal skin
  12. root — of a word
  13. season — of the year
  14. stem — to come from
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. root — of a plant
  17. trunk — of a car
  18. stem — a stem cell
  19. trunk — of a tree
  20. bass — low music
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. root — the cause
  24. stem — of a plant

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