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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.

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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: leaves · game · plane · club · ball · root · rock · last

  1. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  6. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  7. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  8. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  12. The ________________ took off on time.
  13. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  14. That was a fun ________________.
  15. The King held a masked ________________.
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  18. False peace will not ________________.
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  22. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  23. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  24. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. root — the cause
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. club — for golf
  6. ball — a great time
  7. root — of a plant
  8. last — final
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. last — finally
  12. plane — an aircraft
  13. club — for dancing
  14. game — a match
  15. ball — a dance
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. game — a kind of play
  18. last — to go on
  19. rock — a stone
  20. rock — music
  21. club — a group
  22. plane — in geometry
  23. root — of a word
  24. game — wild animals

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