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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.

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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: capital · plane · suit · lean · root · hand · leaves · object

  1. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  2. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  3. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  4. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  5. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  6. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  7. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  8. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  9. The ________________ took off on time.
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  14. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  15. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  16. When will it ________________ you to start?
  17. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  18. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  19. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  22. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  23. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  24. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — in cards
  2. root — the cause
  3. hand — part of the body
  4. hand — help
  5. object — to protest
  6. plane — a tool
  7. object — a thing
  8. root — of a plant
  9. plane — an aircraft
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. capital — money
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. lean — to bend
  14. suit — clothes
  15. root — of a word
  16. suit — to fit
  17. capital — a city
  18. lean — thin
  19. hand — in cards
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. lean — to rest against
  22. object — an aim
  23. capital — a big letter
  24. plane — in geometry

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