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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
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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: root · chair · straw · saw · craft · spell · leaves · bound

  1. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  3. That was ________________ to happen.
  4. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  5. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  8. He works in a ________________ mill.
  9. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  10. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  11. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  12. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  13. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  14. She's very handy with a ________________.
  15. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  16. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  17. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  18. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  19. How do you ________________ your surname?
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  22. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  23. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  24. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. root — the cause
  3. bound — certain
  4. straw — to clutch at straws
  5. straw — a straw man
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. craft — a skill
  8. saw — the tool
  9. chair — to sit on
  10. bound — tied together
  11. craft — a handicraft
  12. chair — a leader
  13. craft — boats
  14. saw — the tool
  15. straw — dry grass
  16. spell — a short time
  17. spell — magic
  18. bound — obliged
  19. spell — letters
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. saw — past of 'see'
  22. root — of a word
  23. chair — a professorship
  24. root — of a plant

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