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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.

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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: root · pass · racket · bank · key · bass · march · cold

  1. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  3. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  4. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  5. Its rival in the ________________ War, the Soviet Union, exploited this at the time.
  6. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  7. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  8. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  9. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  10. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  11. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  12. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  13. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  14. The water is too ________________.
  15. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  16. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  17. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  18. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  19. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  20. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  21. I had a bad ________________ and was in bed for a week.
  22. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. This piece is in a major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. key — the most important part
  3. pass — a permit
  4. bank — for money
  5. cold — the Cold War
  6. root — of a plant
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. march — the month
  9. pass — to succeed
  10. bank — for money
  11. bass — the fish
  12. root — of a word
  13. march — music
  14. cold — not warm
  15. root — the cause
  16. march — the month
  17. racket — a loud noise
  18. bass — low music
  19. racket — for tennis
  20. bass — the instrument
  21. cold — an illness
  22. bank — of a river
  23. key — for a lock
  24. key — in music

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