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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.

Make a worksheet

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: snap · staff · racket · bound · root · lean · leaves · season

  1. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. Did you ________________ the meat?
  4. That was ________________ to happen.
  5. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  6. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  7. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  8. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  9. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  10. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  11. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  12. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  13. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  14. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  15. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  16. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  17. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  18. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  19. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  22. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. root — of a plant
  3. season — to add flavour
  4. bound — certain
  5. root — of a word
  6. snap — to click
  7. season — in sport
  8. staff — a stick
  9. lean — thin
  10. staff — employees
  11. lean — to rest against
  12. lean — to bend
  13. snap — to snap out of it
  14. leaves — of a tree
  15. root — the cause
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. snap — to speak sharply
  18. season — of the year
  19. bound — tied together
  20. bound — obliged
  21. staff — employees
  22. racket — for tennis
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. racket — a loud noise

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