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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. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  2. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. Did you ________________ the button?
  5. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  6. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. What do you think of the new ________________?
  9. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  10. When are we going to ________________?
  11. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  12. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  13. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  14. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  15. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  16. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  17. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  18. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  19. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  20. That was ________________ to happen.
  21. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  22. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  23. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  24. Hard work is the ________________ to success.

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

Answer key

  1. root — the cause
  2. land — ground
  3. key — in music
  4. press — to push
  5. net — after costs
  6. land — a country
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. key — for a lock
  10. land — to come down
  11. net — for catching
  12. bound — tied together
  13. bank — for money
  14. net — in sport
  15. press — a publisher
  16. press — newspapers
  17. cabinet — a cupboard
  18. bank — for money
  19. root — of a word
  20. bound — certain
  21. bound — obliged
  22. root — of a plant
  23. bank — of a river
  24. key — the most important part

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