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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 · key · cue · track · charge · hand · pit · foot

  1. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  2. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  3. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  4. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  5. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  6. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  7. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  8. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  9. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  10. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  11. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  12. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  13. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  16. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  17. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  18. The tickets are free of ________________.
  19. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  20. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  21. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  22. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  23. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  24. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. track — a path
  3. hand — part of the body
  4. track — to keep track
  5. key — the most important part
  6. root — the cause
  7. charge — electricity
  8. foot — a measure
  9. track — a song
  10. cue — for pool
  11. hand — in cards
  12. pit — a fruit stone
  13. root — of a word
  14. key — in music
  15. root — of a plant
  16. foot — the bottom
  17. hand — help
  18. charge — a price
  19. cue — a signal
  20. cue — a hint
  21. pit — a hole
  22. charge — in control
  23. foot — part of the body
  24. pit — in a race

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