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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: toast · leaves · spell · jam · coach · cap · root · lean

  1. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  2. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  3. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  4. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  5. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  6. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  7. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  8. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  9. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  10. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  11. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  12. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  13. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  16. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  17. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  18. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  19. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  20. Have you met the new head ________________?
  21. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  22. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. How do you ________________ your surname?

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

Answer key

  1. coach — pulled by horses
  2. jam — in traffic
  3. root — the cause
  4. spell — a short time
  5. spell — magic
  6. cap — a lid
  7. lean — to rest against
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. cap — a hat
  10. root — of a word
  11. jam — to spread on bread
  12. jam — a tight spot
  13. lean — thin
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. toast — bread
  16. toast — the most admired
  17. lean — to bend
  18. leaves — of a tree
  19. cap — of ice
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. toast — a drink to someone
  22. root — of a plant
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. spell — letters

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