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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 120 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: file · wake · court · root · spring · key · wax · chip

  1. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  2. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  3. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  4. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  5. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  6. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  7. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  8. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  9. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  10. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  11. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  14. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  15. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  16. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  19. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  20. The ball is in your ________________.
  21. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  22. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  23. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  24. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. wake — a trail
  3. wake — to stop sleeping
  4. root — the cause
  5. chip — in a computer
  6. wax — for sculpting
  7. root — of a plant
  8. court — of a king
  9. spring — the season
  10. chip — for betting
  11. court — of law
  12. key — in music
  13. root — of a word
  14. wake — before a funeral
  15. wax — to grow
  16. wax — in the ear
  17. key — the most important part
  18. file — a tool
  19. spring — a coil
  20. court — for sport
  21. file — a line of people
  22. key — for a lock
  23. chip — to eat
  24. spring — of water

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