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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: lean · wax · root · chip · patient · rock · foot · squash

  1. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  2. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  4. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  5. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  6. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  7. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  8. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  9. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  10. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  11. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  12. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  13. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  14. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  17. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  18. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  19. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  22. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  24. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — part of the body
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. chip — in a computer
  4. lean — to bend
  5. foot — the bottom
  6. root — of a plant
  7. chip — for betting
  8. root — the cause
  9. wax — in the ear
  10. wax — to grow
  11. patient — a sick person
  12. chip — to eat
  13. wax — for sculpting
  14. squash — to crush
  15. rock — music
  16. patient — a sick person
  17. squash — the sport
  18. squash — the vegetable
  19. lean — thin
  20. rock — a stone
  21. patient — calm and waiting
  22. root — of a word
  23. foot — a measure
  24. lean — to rest against

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