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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 a dandelion is edible, too.
  2. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  5. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  6. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  7. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  8. This piece is in a major ________________.
  9. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  10. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  11. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  12. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  13. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  14. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  15. My mare is ________________ in color.
  16. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  17. Don't do anything ________________.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  20. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  21. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  22. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  23. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  24. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a plant
  2. key — the most important part
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. cue — a hint
  5. cue — for pool
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. root — the cause
  8. key — in music
  9. content — happy
  10. bay — to keep at bay
  11. cue — a signal
  12. staff — employees
  13. staff — employees
  14. rash — on the skin
  15. bay — a horse colour
  16. root — of a word
  17. rash — hasty
  18. key — for a lock
  19. lie — to recline
  20. content — videos and posts
  21. staff — a stick
  22. content — the amount
  23. bay — a part of the sea
  24. rash — a series

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