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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: bark · jam · root · key · ball · firm · saw · mug

  1. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. Where did you ________________ them?
  3. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  4. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  5. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  6. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  7. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  8. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  9. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  14. She's very handy with a ________________.
  15. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  19. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  20. He works in a ________________ mill.
  21. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  22. The King held a masked ________________.
  23. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  24. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. mug — to rob
  3. root — of a word
  4. root — of a plant
  5. key — the most important part
  6. bark — of a tree
  7. saw — past of 'see'
  8. jam — a tight spot
  9. root — the cause
  10. key — for a lock
  11. firm — steady
  12. mug — a face
  13. jam — to spread on bread
  14. saw — the tool
  15. firm — a company
  16. mug — a cup
  17. bark — a dog's sound
  18. ball — a great time
  19. jam — in traffic
  20. saw — the tool
  21. bark — to shout
  22. ball — a dance
  23. ball — a round shape
  24. firm — decided

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