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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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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 · root · rest · staff · saw · bore · deal · wound

  1. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  2. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  3. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  4. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  5. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  6. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  9. He works in a ________________ mill.
  10. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  11. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  12. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  13. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  14. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  15. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  16. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  17. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  18. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. She's very handy with a ________________.
  21. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  22. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a plant
  2. deal — to handle
  3. bore — to drill
  4. deal — an agreement
  5. saw — past of 'see'
  6. root — of a word
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. wound — an injury
  9. saw — the tool
  10. wound — an injury
  11. deal — a big deal
  12. staff — employees
  13. rest — what's left
  14. staff — employees
  15. rest — a break
  16. bore — gave birth
  17. root — the cause
  18. wound — past of 'wind'
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. saw — the tool
  21. staff — a stick
  22. rest — what's left
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. bore — to tire

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