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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: cabinet · drill · game · foot · arm · coach · bank · root

  1. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  4. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  5. My father caught me by the ________________.
  6. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  7. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  8. What do you think of the new ________________?
  9. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  10. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  11. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  12. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  13. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  14. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  15. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  16. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  17. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  18. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  19. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  20. That was a fun ________________.
  21. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  22. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  23. Have you met the new head ________________?
  24. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a plant
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. arm — a part of something
  4. foot — a measure
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. foot — part of the body
  7. bank — for money
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. bank — of a river
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. drill — army training
  14. coach — pulled by horses
  15. drill — a practice
  16. root — of a word
  17. bank — for money
  18. game — wild animals
  19. drill — the tool
  20. game — a match
  21. foot — the bottom
  22. root — the cause
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. game — a kind of play

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