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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: prune · bass · pitch · toast · ball · root · leaves · mark

  1. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  2. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  3. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  4. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  5. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  6. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  7. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  8. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  9. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  10. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  13. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  14. The King held a masked ________________.
  15. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  16. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  17. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  18. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  19. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  20. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  21. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  22. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  23. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  24. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.

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

Answer key

  1. root — the cause
  2. bass — the fish
  3. pitch — completely
  4. ball — a round shape
  5. root — of a word
  6. bass — the instrument
  7. leaves — lets stay
  8. mark — to pay attention
  9. mark — a trace
  10. prune — to trim
  11. mark — a grade
  12. ball — a great time
  13. pitch — a sports field
  14. ball — a dance
  15. leaves — to go away
  16. root — of a plant
  17. pitch — a sales talk
  18. bass — low music
  19. toast — bread
  20. toast — the most admired
  21. prune — to trim
  22. prune — the fruit
  23. leaves — of a tree
  24. toast — a drink to someone

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