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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 120 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.

Make a worksheet

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: can · deal · trunk · safe · leaves · lash · ground · root

  1. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  6. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  7. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. There's no middle ________________.
  10. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  11. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  12. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  16. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  17. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  18. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  19. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  22. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. The ________________ change colour in autumn.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. root — of a word
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. ground — crushed
  6. lash — a whip stroke
  7. deal — a big deal
  8. can — a tin
  9. ground — a position
  10. leaves — lets stay
  11. deal — an agreement
  12. ground — the earth
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. lash — an eyelash
  16. deal — to handle
  17. trunk — of an elephant
  18. trunk — of a car
  19. root — of a plant
  20. can — to be able to
  21. trunk — of a tree
  22. root — the cause
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. leaves — of a tree

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