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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: rash · spring · file · leaves · root · calf · bear · saw

  1. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  4. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  5. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  6. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  7. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  8. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  9. He works in a ________________ mill.
  10. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  11. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  12. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  13. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  14. She's very handy with a ________________.
  15. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  16. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. Don't do anything ________________.
  19. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  20. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  21. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  22. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  23. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  24. The train ________________ at six o'clock.

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

Answer key

  1. spring — of water
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. file — a document
  4. root — of a plant
  5. spring — a coil
  6. file — a line of people
  7. rash — on the skin
  8. saw — past of 'see'
  9. saw — the tool
  10. file — a tool
  11. spring — the season
  12. root — of a word
  13. calf — of the leg
  14. saw — the tool
  15. bear — to put up with
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. rash — hasty
  19. bear — the animal
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. root — the cause
  22. rash — a series
  23. bear — the animal
  24. leaves — to go away

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