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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.

Make a worksheet

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
468
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 · fan · roll · wind · nail · temple · key · track

  1. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  2. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  3. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  4. When was this ________________ built?
  5. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  6. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  7. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  8. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  9. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  12. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  13. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  14. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  17. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  18. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  19. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  20. We're on a ________________ here.
  21. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  22. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  23. The ________________ went through the wall.
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. fan — a supporter
  2. temple — side of the head
  3. root — of a plant
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. roll — a list
  7. wind — moving air
  8. root — the cause
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. key — in music
  11. wind — to turn a key
  12. root — of a word
  13. nail — on a finger
  14. track — to keep track
  15. key — the most important part
  16. fan — to cool the air
  17. wind — moving air
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. track — a song
  20. roll — on a roll
  21. roll — a cake
  22. track — a path
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. key — for a lock

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