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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: leaves · lean · toast · stand · root · net · spell · mug

  1. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  2. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  3. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  4. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  5. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  9. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  10. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  11. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  12. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  13. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  14. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  15. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  16. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  17. I can't ________________ this cold.
  18. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  19. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  20. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  21. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  22. How do you ________________ your surname?
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — to rest against
  2. root — of a word
  3. stand — for spectators
  4. net — after costs
  5. spell — a short time
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. root — the cause
  9. net — in sport
  10. mug — a cup
  11. root — of a plant
  12. lean — to bend
  13. toast — bread
  14. spell — magic
  15. toast — a drink to someone
  16. net — for catching
  17. stand — to bear
  18. leaves — lets stay
  19. toast — the most admired
  20. stand — on your feet
  21. lean — thin
  22. spell — letters
  23. mug — to rob
  24. mug — a face

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