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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 120 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
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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: lash · trunk · root · stem · bound · bore · fall · field

  1. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  2. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  3. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  4. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  5. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  8. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  9. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  12. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  15. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  16. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  17. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  18. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  19. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  20. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  21. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  22. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  23. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  24. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a plant
  2. root — of a word
  3. trunk — of a tree
  4. bore — to tire
  5. bore — gave birth
  6. bound — certain
  7. fall — to drop
  8. lash — an eyelash
  9. fall — the season
  10. bound — obliged
  11. stem — of a plant
  12. stem — to come from
  13. bound — tied together
  14. trunk — of a car
  15. field — for sport
  16. root — the cause
  17. lash — to lash out
  18. fall — to drop
  19. stem — a stem cell
  20. field — a subject
  21. field — farmland
  22. trunk — of an elephant
  23. lash — a whip stroke
  24. bore — to drill

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