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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.

Words on the sheet
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Word bank
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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're on a ________________ here.
  2. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  3. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  6. He works in a ________________ mill.
  7. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  8. She's very handy with a ________________.
  9. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  14. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  15. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  16. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  17. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  18. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  19. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  20. It's one o'clock ________________.
  21. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  24. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — on a roll
  2. key — for a lock
  3. sharp — clever
  4. pass — a permit
  5. spring — of water
  6. saw — the tool
  7. sharp — with an edge
  8. saw — the tool
  9. lash — to lash out
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. root — the cause
  12. key — in music
  13. lash — an eyelash
  14. root — of a word
  15. spring — the season
  16. pass — to spend time
  17. spring — a coil
  18. root — of a plant
  19. roll — a list
  20. sharp — exactly
  21. roll — a cake
  22. key — the most important part
  23. saw — past of 'see'
  24. lash — a whip stroke

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