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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: current · net · land · racket · present · branch · root · foot

  1. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  2. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  3. When are we going to ________________?
  4. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  5. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  6. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  7. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  8. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  9. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  10. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  11. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  12. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  13. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  14. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  15. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  18. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  19. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  20. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  21. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  24. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. root — the cause
  3. land — to come down
  4. net — for catching
  5. racket — a loud noise
  6. root — of a plant
  7. land — ground
  8. branch — a division
  9. foot — the bottom
  10. net — in sport
  11. net — after costs
  12. foot — a measure
  13. branch — of a tree
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. present — there
  16. current — electric
  17. racket — for tennis
  18. present — the time now
  19. foot — part of the body
  20. present — a gift
  21. land — a country
  22. current — of water
  23. root — of a word
  24. current — happening now

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