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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: can · root · swing · content · net · rock · bark · leaves

  1. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  2. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  3. David sat on the ________________.
  4. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  7. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  8. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  11. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  12. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  15. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  16. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  17. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  22. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  23. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. content — videos and posts
  2. swing — music
  3. swing — to play on
  4. root — the cause
  5. can — a tin
  6. net — for catching
  7. bark — to shout
  8. content — the amount
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. rock — a stone
  11. bark — of a tree
  12. bark — a dog's sound
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. root — of a word
  15. swing — in golf
  16. content — happy
  17. root — of a plant
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. can — a tin
  20. rock — music
  21. net — in sport
  22. net — after costs
  23. leaves — of a tree
  24. can — to be able to

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