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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 116 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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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. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  4. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  5. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  6. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  7. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  8. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  9. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  12. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  13. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  14. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  15. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  16. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  19. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  20. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  21. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  22. He is an ace ________________.
  23. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  24. The tickets are free of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. key — in music
  3. file — a line of people
  4. branch — of a tree
  5. root — the cause
  6. spring — of water
  7. root — of a plant
  8. branch — a division
  9. root — of a word
  10. key — for a lock
  11. charge — electricity
  12. charge — in control
  13. spring — the season
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. file — a tool
  16. spring — a coil
  17. key — the most important part
  18. branch — of a bank
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. bear — the animal
  21. bear — the animal
  22. pitcher — in baseball
  23. bear — to put up with
  24. charge — a price

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