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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: bank · leaves · wax · hide · root · wake · foot · staff

  1. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  3. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  8. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  9. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  10. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  11. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  12. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  13. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  14. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  15. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  16. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  17. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  18. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  19. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  20. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  21. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  22. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  23. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  24. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. wake — to stop sleeping
  3. staff — employees
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. wax — to grow
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. bank — for money
  8. bank — for money
  9. wake — before a funeral
  10. root — of a plant
  11. foot — part of the body
  12. root — the cause
  13. wax — for sculpting
  14. wax — in the ear
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. wake — a trail
  17. hide — animal skin
  18. leaves — lets stay
  19. foot — a measure
  20. bank — of a river
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. staff — a stick
  23. staff — employees
  24. root — of a word

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