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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: arm · root · capital · safe · roll · stock · leaves · can

  1. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  3. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  4. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  5. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  6. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. My father caught me by the ________________.
  10. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  11. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  12. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  15. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. We're on a ________________ here.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. The ________________ market has crashed.
  22. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. arm — part of the body
  3. capital — money
  4. capital — a big letter
  5. roll — a list
  6. arm — a part of something
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. can — a tin
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. root — of a word
  11. stock — a soup base
  12. capital — a city
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. root — of a plant
  15. stock — goods
  16. can — to be able to
  17. roll — on a roll
  18. can — a tin
  19. leaves — lets stay
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. stock — shares
  22. roll — a cake
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. root — the cause

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