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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: mouse · foot · root · kid · key · rush · wound · charge

  1. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  2. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  3. The tickets are free of ________________.
  4. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  5. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  6. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  7. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  8. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  9. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  13. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  14. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  15. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  16. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  17. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  18. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  19. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  22. This piece is in a major ________________.
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  24. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a plant
  2. key — for a lock
  3. charge — a price
  4. wound — an injury
  5. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  6. wound — past of 'wind'
  7. charge — in control
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. foot — part of the body
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. rush — hurry
  12. wound — an injury
  13. foot — a measure
  14. kid — to tease
  15. charge — electricity
  16. kid — child
  17. root — the cause
  18. mouse — for a computer
  19. key — the most important part
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. foot — the bottom
  22. key — in music
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. root — of a word

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