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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: cue · cabinet · bank · bear · leaves · pass · root · net

  1. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  2. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  3. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  4. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  5. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  6. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  7. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  8. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  9. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  14. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  15. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  16. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  19. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  20. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  21. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  22. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. The ________________ change colour in autumn.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. bear — the animal
  3. pass — to succeed
  4. root — of a word
  5. net — after costs
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. bear — to put up with
  8. root — the cause
  9. pass — a permit
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. root — of a plant
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. cue — for pool
  14. bank — of a river
  15. bank — for money
  16. leaves — to go away
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. leaves — lets stay
  19. cue — a hint
  20. net — for catching
  21. net — in sport
  22. bank — for money
  23. cue — a signal
  24. leaves — of a tree

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