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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: root · spell · board · lean · jam · club · arm · bank

  1. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  2. My father caught me by the ________________.
  3. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  4. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  5. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  6. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  7. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  8. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  9. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  10. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  11. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  12. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  13. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  14. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  15. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  16. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  17. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  18. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  19. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  20. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  21. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  22. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  23. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  24. How do you ________________ your surname?

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a word
  2. arm — part of the body
  3. spell — a short time
  4. board — a committee
  5. club — for golf
  6. lean — to rest against
  7. spell — magic
  8. bank — for money
  9. lean — thin
  10. board — a flat piece
  11. jam — to spread on bread
  12. root — the cause
  13. lean — to bend
  14. board — to get on
  15. club — for dancing
  16. bank — for money
  17. bank — of a river
  18. root — of a plant
  19. arm — a part of something
  20. club — a group
  21. jam — a tight spot
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. jam — in traffic
  24. spell — letters

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