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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: key · stock · branch · racket · rock · plane · leaves · root

  1. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  6. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  7. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  8. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  13. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  14. The ________________ market has crashed.
  15. The ________________ took off on time.
  16. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  17. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  18. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  19. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  20. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  21. This piece is in a major ________________.
  22. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  23. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. key — for a lock
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. rock — to move gently
  6. root — of a word
  7. racket — a loud noise
  8. racket — for tennis
  9. key — the most important part
  10. root — of a plant
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. branch — of a bank
  13. branch — of a tree
  14. stock — shares
  15. plane — an aircraft
  16. stock — goods
  17. rock — a stone
  18. branch — a division
  19. root — the cause
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. key — in music
  22. plane — a tool
  23. stock — a soup base
  24. rock — music

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