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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: bulb · hand · lean · root · board · wake · leaves · mark

  1. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  2. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  3. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  7. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  10. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  14. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  15. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  19. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  22. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  23. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  24. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.

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

Answer key

  1. root — the cause
  2. board — to get on
  3. lean — to rest against
  4. mark — a grade
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. wake — to stop sleeping
  7. board — a committee
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. root — of a plant
  10. lean — thin
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. hand — help
  14. wake — before a funeral
  15. hand — part of the body
  16. bulb — for light
  17. mark — a trace
  18. hand — in cards
  19. root — of a word
  20. bulb — for light
  21. board — a flat piece
  22. lean — to bend
  23. leaves — of a tree
  24. wake — a trail

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