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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: saw · spring · foot · lean · bay · root · board · row

  1. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  2. She's very handy with a ________________.
  3. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  4. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  5. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  6. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  7. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  8. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  9. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  10. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  11. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  12. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  13. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  14. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  15. My mare is ________________ in color.
  16. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  17. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  18. He works in a ________________ mill.
  19. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  20. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  21. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  22. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  23. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  24. I have a corn on my right ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. root — the cause
  2. saw — the tool
  3. lean — thin
  4. spring — of water
  5. root — of a plant
  6. foot — a measure
  7. spring — the season
  8. row — to paddle
  9. row — a quarrel
  10. saw — past of 'see'
  11. foot — the bottom
  12. bay — a part of the sea
  13. row — a line
  14. root — of a word
  15. bay — a horse colour
  16. board — a flat piece
  17. lean — to bend
  18. saw — the tool
  19. board — a committee
  20. bay — to keep at bay
  21. board — to get on
  22. lean — to rest against
  23. spring — a coil
  24. foot — part of the body

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