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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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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: root · cabinet · bulb · sharp · last · staff · bank · leaves

  1. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  4. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  5. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  8. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  9. What do you think of the new ________________?
  10. It's one o'clock ________________.
  11. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  12. False peace will not ________________.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  15. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  18. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  19. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  20. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  21. The light ________________ burned out.
  22. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — with an edge
  2. root — of a plant
  3. last — finally
  4. bank — of a river
  5. staff — employees
  6. bulb — for light
  7. bank — for money
  8. bank — for money
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. sharp — exactly
  11. last — final
  12. last — to go on
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. root — the cause
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. staff — a stick
  18. root — of a word
  19. staff — employees
  20. sharp — clever
  21. bulb — for light
  22. cabinet — a cupboard
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. leaves — lets stay

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