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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: root · fine · vault · lie · branch · leaves · squash · mouse

  1. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  2. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  3. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  4. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  5. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  6. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  7. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  8. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  9. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  10. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  11. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  12. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  13. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  14. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  15. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  22. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  23. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  24. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — high quality
  2. root — of a word
  3. root — of a plant
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. squash — the sport
  6. lie — to recline
  7. vault — a safe
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. vault — an arched ceiling
  10. vault — in gymnastics
  11. branch — of a tree
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. squash — to crush
  14. branch — of a bank
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. fine — a penalty
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. fine — all right
  21. branch — a division
  22. root — the cause
  23. mouse — for a computer
  24. squash — the vegetable

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