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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.

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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 ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  2. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  3. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  4. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  5. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  6. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  7. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  8. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  9. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  13. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  14. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  15. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  16. The ________________ went through the wall.
  17. This piece is in a major ________________.
  18. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  19. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  20. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  21. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  22. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  23. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  24. Don't do anything ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a word
  2. key — the most important part
  3. branch — a division
  4. branch — of a bank
  5. track — to keep track
  6. root — the cause
  7. rash — a series
  8. key — for a lock
  9. branch — of a tree
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. track — a path
  13. root — of a plant
  14. track — a song
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. key — in music
  18. rash — on the skin
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. nail — on a finger
  21. stick — a piece of wood
  22. stick — to attach or keep to
  23. stick — a piece of wood
  24. rash — hasty

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