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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.

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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: wave · staff · root · scale · lie · branch · face · rush

  1. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  2. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  3. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  4. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  5. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  6. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  7. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  8. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  9. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  10. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  13. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  14. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  15. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  16. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  17. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  18. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  19. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  20. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  21. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  22. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  23. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  24. That must've been a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — of the sea
  2. face — to point toward
  3. root — the cause
  4. rush — to hurry
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. root — of a word
  7. root — of a plant
  8. scale — size or range
  9. face — part of the head
  10. branch — a division
  11. rush — hurry
  12. branch — of a bank
  13. staff — employees
  14. scale — for weighing
  15. face — to confront
  16. wave — a sudden rise
  17. staff — employees
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. branch — of a tree
  20. scale — in music
  21. wave — with your hand
  22. staff — a stick
  23. lie — to recline
  24. rush — a thrill

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