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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: leaves · root · foot · key · pop · rock · wind · staff

  1. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  4. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  5. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  6. You don't need to ________________ round.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  9. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  10. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  11. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  12. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  13. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  21. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  22. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  23. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  24. We're almost out of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. root — of a plant
  3. foot — the bottom
  4. key — for a lock
  5. root — the cause
  6. pop — to visit
  7. key — in music
  8. root — of a word
  9. wind — moving air
  10. foot — a measure
  11. pop — music
  12. foot — part of the body
  13. rock — to move gently
  14. rock — music
  15. key — the most important part
  16. rock — a stone
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. leaves — of a tree
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. staff — a stick
  21. staff — employees
  22. wind — moving air
  23. wind — to turn a key
  24. pop — soda

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