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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.

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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: fine · leaves · wake · track · march · rock · root · suit

  1. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  2. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  4. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  9. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  10. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  11. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  12. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  13. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  14. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  15. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  16. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  17. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  18. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  19. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  20. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  21. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  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. wake — to stop sleeping
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. march — the month
  4. march — the month
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. root — of a word
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. track — a path
  9. wake — before a funeral
  10. rock — music
  11. wake — a trail
  12. rock — a stone
  13. rock — to move gently
  14. suit — in cards
  15. fine — all right
  16. march — music
  17. track — to keep track
  18. suit — clothes
  19. root — the cause
  20. track — a song
  21. fine — high quality
  22. suit — to fit
  23. leaves — lets stay
  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