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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: root · fine · spell · cell · cap · sharp · scale · leaves

  1. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  2. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  3. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  4. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  5. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  8. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  9. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  10. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  11. It's one o'clock ________________.
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  14. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  15. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  16. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  17. He was locked up in a ________________.
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  20. How do you ________________ your surname?
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  23. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  24. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.

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

Answer key

  1. cap — a lid
  2. scale — size or range
  3. sharp — with an edge
  4. scale — in music
  5. cell — in biology
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. root — the cause
  8. cell — a phone
  9. scale — for weighing
  10. root — of a plant
  11. sharp — exactly
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. cap — a hat
  14. fine — high quality
  15. spell — a short time
  16. cap — of ice
  17. cell — in a prison
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. spell — magic
  20. spell — letters
  21. fine — all right
  22. fine — a penalty
  23. sharp — clever
  24. root — of a word

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