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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: field · net · kick · mark · key · track · root · lie

  1. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  2. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  3. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  4. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  5. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  6. This piece is in a major ________________.
  7. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  8. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  13. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  14. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  15. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  19. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  20. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  21. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  22. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  23. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  24. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. field — for sport
  2. lie — to recline
  3. root — the cause
  4. field — a subject
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. key — in music
  7. root — of a word
  8. net — after costs
  9. key — the most important part
  10. track — to keep track
  11. key — for a lock
  12. kick — in football
  13. kick — with a leg
  14. net — for catching
  15. track — a song
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. mark — a trace
  18. net — in sport
  19. track — a path
  20. field — farmland
  21. root — of a plant
  22. kick — a thrill
  23. mark — a grade
  24. lie — an untruth

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