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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: key · stand · bound · board · stem · root · foot · net

  1. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  2. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  3. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  6. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  7. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  8. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  9. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  10. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  11. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  12. That was ________________ to happen.
  13. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  14. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  15. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  18. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  19. I can't ________________ this cold.
  20. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  21. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  22. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. Many English words ________________ from Latin.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a plant
  2. net — after costs
  3. key — the most important part
  4. key — in music
  5. root — the cause
  6. stand — for spectators
  7. foot — a measure
  8. board — to get on
  9. net — in sport
  10. board — a committee
  11. stem — a stem cell
  12. bound — certain
  13. stem — of a plant
  14. stand — on your feet
  15. bound — obliged
  16. bound — tied together
  17. root — of a word
  18. foot — part of the body
  19. stand — to bear
  20. board — a flat piece
  21. net — for catching
  22. foot — the bottom
  23. key — for a lock
  24. stem — to come from

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