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

Word bank: stock · pit · root · sharp · lash · bank · key · racket

  1. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  2. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  3. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  4. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  5. The ________________ market has crashed.
  6. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  7. It's one o'clock ________________.
  8. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  9. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  10. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  11. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  12. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  13. This piece is in a major ________________.
  14. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  15. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  16. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  17. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  18. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  19. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  20. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  21. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  22. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  23. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  24. What's the difference between broth and ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. root — the cause
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. racket — a loud noise
  5. stock — shares
  6. lash — an eyelash
  7. sharp — exactly
  8. lash — to lash out
  9. bank — of a river
  10. key — the most important part
  11. pit — a hole
  12. lash — a whip stroke
  13. key — in music
  14. root — of a word
  15. bank — for money
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. bank — for money
  18. pit — in a race
  19. stock — goods
  20. pit — a fruit stone
  21. sharp — with an edge
  22. root — of a plant
  23. sharp — clever
  24. stock — a soup base

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