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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.

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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: lie · leaves · straw · file · lash · root · pass · bay

  1. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  2. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  3. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  4. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  5. My mare is ________________ in color.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  10. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  11. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  12. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  13. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  14. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  15. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  16. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  17. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  22. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  23. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  24. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a word
  2. pass — to succeed
  3. root — of a plant
  4. lie — to recline
  5. bay — a horse colour
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. pass — a permit
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. straw — a straw man
  10. lash — an eyelash
  11. straw — to clutch at straws
  12. file — a document
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. lash — to lash out
  15. lash — a whip stroke
  16. root — the cause
  17. bay — to keep at bay
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. bay — a part of the sea
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. file — a tool
  22. pass — to spend time
  23. straw — dry grass
  24. file — a line of people

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