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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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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 speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  2. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  4. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  5. Have you settled on a ________________?
  6. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  7. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  8. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  9. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  10. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  11. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  12. The King held a masked ________________.
  13. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  14. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  15. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  16. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  17. This piece is in a major ________________.
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  20. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  21. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  22. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  23. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  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 — a trail
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. date — the fruit
  4. ball — a great time
  5. date — on the calendar
  6. bank — of a river
  7. bank — for money
  8. wake — before a funeral
  9. root — of a word
  10. jam — in traffic
  11. key — the most important part
  12. ball — a dance
  13. date — on the calendar
  14. jam — a tight spot
  15. staff — employees
  16. bank — for money
  17. key — in music
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. wake — to stop sleeping
  20. root — the cause
  21. staff — employees
  22. key — for a lock
  23. staff — a stick
  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