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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 flowers bloom in the ________________.
  2. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  3. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  4. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  5. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  6. This piece is in a major ________________.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  9. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  12. The ________________ market has crashed.
  13. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  17. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  18. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  19. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  20. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  21. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  22. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  23. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. spring — the season
  2. net — after costs
  3. chip — in a computer
  4. chip — to eat
  5. net — in sport
  6. key — in music
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. lie — to recline
  9. net — for catching
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. root — of a word
  12. stock — shares
  13. root — the cause
  14. key — the most important part
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. stock — goods
  17. spring — a coil
  18. root — of a plant
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. stock — a soup base
  22. spring — of water
  23. chip — for betting
  24. key — for a lock

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