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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.

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: root · leaves · bank · drill · key · net · ball · mate

  1. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  5. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  6. This piece is in a major ________________.
  7. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  8. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  9. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  10. The King held a masked ________________.
  11. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  14. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  15. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  16. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  19. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  20. Have you found your soul ________________?
  21. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  22. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  23. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  24. The kitten curled into a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. ball — a great time
  4. key — the most important part
  5. root — of a plant
  6. key — in music
  7. net — for catching
  8. bank — for money
  9. key — for a lock
  10. ball — a dance
  11. drill — the tool
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. drill — army training
  14. net — after costs
  15. bank — of a river
  16. drill — a practice
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. mate — a friend
  19. mate — to breed
  20. mate — a partner
  21. net — in sport
  22. root — the cause
  23. root — of a word
  24. ball — a round shape

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