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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: branch · saw · nail · chair · cabinet · lie · bulb · root

  1. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  4. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  5. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. She's very handy with a ________________.
  9. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  10. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  11. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  12. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  13. The ________________ went through the wall.
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  16. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  17. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  18. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  19. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  20. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  21. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  22. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  23. He works in a ________________ mill.
  24. The light ________________ burned out.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. root — of a plant
  3. nail — on a finger
  4. saw — past of 'see'
  5. branch — of a bank
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. saw — the tool
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. branch — of a tree
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. root — the cause
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. bulb — for light
  15. branch — a division
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. root — of a word
  18. cabinet — a cupboard
  19. chair — to sit on
  20. chair — a leader
  21. chair — a professorship
  22. lie — to recline
  23. saw — the tool
  24. bulb — for light

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