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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 · ground · roll · foot · bowl · ball · toast · plane

  1. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  2. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  3. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  4. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  5. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  6. There's no middle ________________.
  7. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  8. We're on a ________________ here.
  9. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  10. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  11. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  12. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  13. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  14. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  15. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  16. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  17. The King held a masked ________________.
  18. The ________________ took off on time.
  19. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  20. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  21. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  22. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  24. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.

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

Answer key

  1. toast — a drink to someone
  2. ball — a great time
  3. foot — part of the body
  4. ground — the earth
  5. toast — the most admired
  6. ground — a position
  7. plane — a tool
  8. roll — on a roll
  9. toast — bread
  10. bowl — to roll
  11. roll — a list
  12. bowl — a football final
  13. root — of a plant
  14. bowl — a dish
  15. root — of a word
  16. plane — in geometry
  17. ball — a dance
  18. plane — an aircraft
  19. ground — crushed
  20. roll — a cake
  21. ball — a round shape
  22. root — the cause
  23. foot — a measure
  24. foot — the bottom

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