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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: cell · leaves · current · track · game · root · safe · plane

  1. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  2. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. He was locked up in a ________________.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  15. The ________________ took off on time.
  16. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. That was a fun ________________.
  21. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  22. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  23. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  24. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cell — a phone
  2. plane — in geometry
  3. current — happening now
  4. cell — in a prison
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. track — a song
  7. current — of water
  8. track — a path
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. root — of a plant
  12. current — electric
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. track — to keep track
  15. plane — an aircraft
  16. root — of a word
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. plane — a tool
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. game — a match
  21. root — the cause
  22. cell — in biology
  23. game — a kind of play
  24. game — wild animals

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