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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 116 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: staff · face · fan · plane · leaves · net · root · bass

  1. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  2. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  3. The ________________ took off on time.
  4. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  5. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  10. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  11. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  12. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  13. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  14. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  15. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  16. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  19. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  20. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  21. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  22. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. He took the fish out of the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. net — in sport
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. plane — an aircraft
  4. root — of a word
  5. plane — in geometry
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. root — the cause
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. plane — a tool
  10. root — of a plant
  11. staff — a stick
  12. staff — employees
  13. staff — employees
  14. face — to confront
  15. bass — low music
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. bass — the fish
  19. net — after costs
  20. face — to point toward
  21. face — part of the head
  22. bass — the instrument
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. net — for catching

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