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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.

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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: calf · trunk · net · pop · stick · stand · root · sharp

  1. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  2. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  3. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  4. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  5. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  6. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  7. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  8. We're almost out of ________________.
  9. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  10. I can't ________________ this cold.
  11. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  12. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  13. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  14. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  15. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  16. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  17. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  18. It's one o'clock ________________.
  19. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  20. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  21. You don't need to ________________ round.
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  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. root — the cause
  2. net — after costs
  3. trunk — of a car
  4. stick — a piece of wood
  5. stick — to attach or keep to
  6. root — of a word
  7. stand — for spectators
  8. pop — soda
  9. stick — a piece of wood
  10. stand — to bear
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. trunk — of a tree
  14. net — for catching
  15. calf — of the leg
  16. sharp — clever
  17. sharp — with an edge
  18. sharp — exactly
  19. net — in sport
  20. trunk — of an elephant
  21. pop — to visit
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. pop — music
  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