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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 120 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: rash · fan · root · bound · perch · lean · rock · arm

  1. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  2. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  3. That was ________________ to happen.
  4. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  5. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  6. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  7. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  8. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  9. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  10. Don't do anything ________________.
  11. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  12. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  18. My father caught me by the ________________.
  19. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  22. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  23. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  24. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.

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

Answer key

  1. root — the cause
  2. lean — to rest against
  3. bound — certain
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. arm — a part of something
  6. fan — to cool the air
  7. root — of a plant
  8. root — of a word
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. rash — hasty
  11. bound — tied together
  12. rash — on the skin
  13. rock — a stone
  14. rock — to move gently
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. rock — music
  17. rash — a series
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. perch — the fish
  20. bound — obliged
  21. lean — to bend
  22. lean — thin
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. arm — part of the body

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