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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.

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: plane · pitcher · root · leaves · mug · bound · firm · lie

  1. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. He is an ace ________________.
  4. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  5. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  6. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  7. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  12. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  13. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  14. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  15. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  16. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  19. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  20. That was ________________ to happen.
  21. The ________________ took off on time.
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  24. The ________________ change colour in autumn.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a face
  2. root — of a plant
  3. pitcher — in baseball
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. bound — tied together
  6. mug — a cup
  7. root — the cause
  8. mug — to rob
  9. plane — a tool
  10. bound — obliged
  11. plane — in geometry
  12. firm — steady
  13. root — of a word
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. firm — decided
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. firm — a company
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. bound — certain
  21. plane — an aircraft
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. lie — to recline
  24. leaves — of a tree

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