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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 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  4. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  5. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  6. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  7. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  8. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  9. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  10. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  11. The ball is in your ________________.
  12. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  13. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  14. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  17. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  22. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  23. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a word
  2. key — in music
  3. march — music
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. root — the cause
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. pitch — a sports field
  8. root — of a plant
  9. calf — of the leg
  10. march — the month
  11. court — for sport
  12. court — of a king
  13. club — a group
  14. march — the month
  15. key — the most important part
  16. club — for golf
  17. club — for dancing
  18. mug — to rob
  19. pitch — a sales talk
  20. mug — a cup
  21. key — for a lock
  22. pitch — completely
  23. court — of law
  24. mug — a face

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