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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 116 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: leaves · nail · prune · bass · stand · root · fine · pitch

  1. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  4. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  5. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  6. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  7. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  8. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  9. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  10. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  11. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  12. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  17. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. The ________________ went through the wall.
  20. I can't ________________ this cold.
  21. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  22. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  23. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  24. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. root — of a plant
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. fine — high quality
  5. root — the cause
  6. prune — the fruit
  7. pitch — a sales talk
  8. stand — on your feet
  9. pitch — completely
  10. bass — low music
  11. pitch — a sports field
  12. root — of a word
  13. fine — all right
  14. prune — to trim
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. prune — to trim
  17. fine — a penalty
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. stand — to bear
  21. bass — the instrument
  22. nail — on a finger
  23. stand — for spectators
  24. bass — the fish

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