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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
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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: plane · roll · shower · temple · cabinet · leaves · net · root

  1. We're on a ________________ here.
  2. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. The ________________ took off on time.
  8. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  9. When was this ________________ built?
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  12. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  13. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  14. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  15. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  16. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  17. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  18. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  19. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  20. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  21. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  22. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  23. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  24. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — on a roll
  2. plane — in geometry
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. shower — a meteor shower
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. plane — an aircraft
  8. net — in sport
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. net — for catching
  12. shower — to wash
  13. root — the cause
  14. leaves — of a tree
  15. root — of a word
  16. plane — a tool
  17. root — of a plant
  18. cabinet — a cupboard
  19. net — after costs
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. shower — rain
  22. roll — a list
  23. roll — a cake
  24. temple — side of the head

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