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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. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  2. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  3. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  7. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  8. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  9. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  12. We're almost out of ________________.
  13. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  14. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  15. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  16. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  17. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. You don't need to ________________ round.
  22. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  23. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  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. key — for a lock
  2. pop — music
  3. root — of a plant
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. key — in music
  6. board — a committee
  7. staff — employees
  8. staff — employees
  9. cap — a lid
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. root — of a word
  12. pop — soda
  13. foot — part of the body
  14. cap — of ice
  15. staff — a stick
  16. board — a flat piece
  17. board — to get on
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. root — the cause
  20. key — the most important part
  21. pop — to visit
  22. foot — a measure
  23. cap — a hat
  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