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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. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  2. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  3. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  4. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  5. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  6. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  9. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  10. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  11. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  12. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  13. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  17. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  18. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  19. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  20. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — a sales talk
  2. root — the cause
  3. bank — for money
  4. bound — tied together
  5. object — a thing
  6. mark — to pay attention
  7. mark — a grade
  8. bound — obliged
  9. bank — for money
  10. fork — a garden tool
  11. root — of a word
  12. pitch — a sports field
  13. mark — a trace
  14. key — in music
  15. key — the most important part
  16. fork — in a road
  17. object — an aim
  18. bank — of a river
  19. root — of a plant
  20. object — to protest
  21. bound — certain
  22. pitch — completely
  23. key — for a lock
  24. fork — to eat with

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