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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: bowl · root · ball · rock · branch · press · stand · plane

  1. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  3. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  4. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  5. The ________________ took off on time.
  6. I can't ________________ this cold.
  7. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  8. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  9. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  10. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  13. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  14. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  15. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  16. Did you ________________ the button?
  17. The King held a masked ________________.
  18. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  19. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  20. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  21. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. root — the cause
  3. bowl — a football final
  4. branch — a division
  5. plane — an aircraft
  6. stand — to bear
  7. bowl — a dish
  8. ball — a round shape
  9. press — newspapers
  10. press — a publisher
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. stand — for spectators
  13. branch — of a tree
  14. branch — of a bank
  15. root — of a word
  16. press — to push
  17. ball — a dance
  18. plane — a tool
  19. bowl — to roll
  20. ball — a great time
  21. plane — in geometry
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. root — of a plant
  24. rock — music

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