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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: foot · rock · root · mouse · pass · temple · march · key

  1. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  2. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  3. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  6. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  7. When was this ________________ built?
  8. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  12. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  15. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  16. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  19. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  20. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  21. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  22. This piece is in a major ________________.
  23. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  24. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.

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

Answer key

  1. march — music
  2. key — the most important part
  3. foot — a measure
  4. pass — a permit
  5. foot — the bottom
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. key — for a lock
  11. mouse — for a computer
  12. root — of a word
  13. rock — music
  14. march — the month
  15. root — of a plant
  16. march — the month
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. foot — part of the body
  20. pass — to succeed
  21. root — the cause
  22. key — in music
  23. rock — a stone
  24. temple — side of the head

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