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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: root · bowl · key · shower · wound · cabinet · cue · bound

  1. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  2. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  5. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  6. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  7. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  8. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  9. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  10. What do you think of the new ________________?
  11. That was ________________ to happen.
  12. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  13. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  14. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  15. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  16. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  17. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  18. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  19. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  20. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  21. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  22. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.

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

Answer key

  1. wound — an injury
  2. root — of a word
  3. key — in music
  4. wound — an injury
  5. cue — for pool
  6. shower — to wash
  7. key — the most important part
  8. key — for a lock
  9. shower — rain
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. bound — certain
  12. cabinet — a cupboard
  13. shower — a meteor shower
  14. bowl — a football final
  15. wound — past of 'wind'
  16. bowl — a dish
  17. root — the cause
  18. bound — tied together
  19. bound — obliged
  20. root — of a plant
  21. bowl — to roll
  22. cue — a hint
  23. cue — a signal
  24. cabinet — ministers

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