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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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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: present · rest · jam · prune · key · rock · root · board

  1. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  2. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  3. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  4. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  5. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  6. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  7. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  8. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  9. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  10. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  11. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  12. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  15. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  16. This piece is in a major ________________.
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  19. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  20. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  23. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  24. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. root — of a word
  3. present — there
  4. rest — a break
  5. key — the most important part
  6. board — a flat piece
  7. present — the time now
  8. root — of a plant
  9. jam — a tight spot
  10. prune — to trim
  11. rest — what's left
  12. board — to get on
  13. rock — music
  14. rock — a stone
  15. present — a gift
  16. key — in music
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. jam — in traffic
  19. prune — to trim
  20. prune — the fruit
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. key — for a lock
  23. board — a committee
  24. root — the cause

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