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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
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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 · spell · key · can · shower · dip · chip · rock

  1. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  2. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  3. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  4. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  5. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  9. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  10. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  11. How do you ________________ your surname?
  12. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  15. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  20. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  21. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  24. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — for betting
  2. key — for a lock
  3. dip — a sauce
  4. dip — to sink
  5. shower — a meteor shower
  6. can — to be able to
  7. key — in music
  8. shower — rain
  9. rock — music
  10. root — of a plant
  11. spell — letters
  12. shower — to wash
  13. rock — a stone
  14. spell — a short time
  15. root — of a word
  16. can — a tin
  17. root — the cause
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. key — the most important part
  20. chip — to eat
  21. chip — in a computer
  22. can — a tin
  23. dip — to dunk
  24. spell — magic

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