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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
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: lie · tube · key · fall · fan · ball · mark · root

  1. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  5. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  6. The King held a masked ________________.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. I'll be taking the ________________.
  9. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  10. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  13. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  17. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  18. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  19. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  20. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  21. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  22. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  23. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  24. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?

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

Answer key

  1. fall — to drop
  2. root — of a plant
  3. ball — a great time
  4. key — the most important part
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. ball — a dance
  7. key — in music
  8. tube — the underground
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. lie — to recline
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. fall — the season
  14. key — for a lock
  15. mark — a trace
  16. tube — a container
  17. mark — a grade
  18. ball — a round shape
  19. fan — to cool the air
  20. fall — to drop
  21. root — the cause
  22. tube — in a tire
  23. root — of a word
  24. fan — a supporter

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