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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 in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  4. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  5. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  6. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  7. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  8. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  9. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  10. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  11. Have you found your soul ________________?
  12. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  13. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  14. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  17. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  18. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  19. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  20. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  21. This piece is in a major ________________.
  22. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  23. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  24. The old man leaned on his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mate — a friend
  2. root — of a plant
  3. vault — in gymnastics
  4. staff — employees
  5. prune — to trim
  6. mate — to breed
  7. vault — an arched ceiling
  8. pit — a fruit stone
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. pit — a hole
  11. mate — a partner
  12. key — for a lock
  13. lie — to recline
  14. pit — in a race
  15. key — the most important part
  16. prune — the fruit
  17. root — of a word
  18. prune — to trim
  19. staff — employees
  20. vault — a safe
  21. key — in music
  22. root — the cause
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. staff — a stick

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