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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: root · lie · trunk · plane · foot · wax · mug · march

  1. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  2. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  3. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  4. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  5. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  6. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  7. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  10. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  11. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  12. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  13. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  14. Where did you ________________ them?
  15. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  16. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  17. The ________________ took off on time.
  18. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  19. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  20. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  21. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  22. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  23. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  24. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a car
  2. march — music
  3. trunk — of a tree
  4. mug — a face
  5. foot — a measure
  6. foot — the bottom
  7. lie — to recline
  8. mug — a cup
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. wax — in the ear
  11. plane — a tool
  12. root — of a plant
  13. foot — part of the body
  14. mug — to rob
  15. march — the month
  16. plane — in geometry
  17. plane — an aircraft
  18. trunk — of an elephant
  19. wax — for sculpting
  20. root — of a word
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. root — the cause
  23. wax — to grow
  24. march — the month

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