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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: roll · foot · bass · root · hide · key · stand · object

  1. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  2. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  3. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  4. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  5. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  6. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  7. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  8. I can't ________________ this cold.
  9. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  10. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  11. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  12. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  13. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  14. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  15. This piece is in a major ________________.
  16. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  17. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  18. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  19. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  20. We're on a ________________ here.
  21. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  22. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.

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

Answer key

  1. object — an aim
  2. foot — a measure
  3. root — of a plant
  4. roll — a list
  5. key — for a lock
  6. root — the cause
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. stand — to bear
  9. object — a thing
  10. foot — part of the body
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. bass — the instrument
  13. object — to protest
  14. roll — a cake
  15. key — in music
  16. hide — animal skin
  17. root — of a word
  18. stand — for spectators
  19. stand — on your feet
  20. roll — on a roll
  21. foot — the bottom
  22. bass — the fish
  23. key — the most important part
  24. bass — low 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