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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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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 · spell · key · shower · saw · board · sharp · pass

  1. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  2. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  3. How do you ________________ your surname?
  4. It's one o'clock ________________.
  5. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  6. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  7. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  13. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  14. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  15. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  16. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  19. She's very handy with a ________________.
  20. He works in a ________________ mill.
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  23. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  24. You can't go backstage without a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. root — the cause
  2. spell — magic
  3. spell — letters
  4. sharp — exactly
  5. sharp — clever
  6. saw — past of 'see'
  7. shower — to wash
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. key — in music
  10. sharp — with an edge
  11. key — for a lock
  12. shower — a meteor shower
  13. board — a flat piece
  14. board — to get on
  15. spell — a short time
  16. root — of a word
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. root — of a plant
  19. saw — the tool
  20. saw — the tool
  21. key — the most important part
  22. board — a committee
  23. shower — rain
  24. pass — a permit

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