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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 116 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. The ________________ took off on time.
  3. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  4. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  5. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  6. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  9. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  10. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  11. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  12. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  13. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  14. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  15. How do you ________________ your surname?
  16. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  17. It's one o'clock ________________.
  18. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  19. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  20. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  21. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  22. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  23. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  24. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a plant
  2. plane — an aircraft
  3. key — for a lock
  4. sharp — clever
  5. chair — a leader
  6. root — the cause
  7. key — in music
  8. branch — a division
  9. chair — to sit on
  10. plane — in geometry
  11. bank — for money
  12. key — the most important part
  13. branch — of a tree
  14. spell — a short time
  15. spell — letters
  16. bank — for money
  17. sharp — exactly
  18. plane — a tool
  19. spell — magic
  20. sharp — with an edge
  21. chair — a professorship
  22. branch — of a bank
  23. bank — of a river
  24. root — of a word

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