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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: key · mark · dip · foot · root · cue · rush · spring

  1. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  2. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  3. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  4. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  7. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  8. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  11. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  19. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  20. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  21. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  24. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. spring — the season
  3. foot — a measure
  4. cue — a hint
  5. key — in music
  6. foot — the bottom
  7. dip — a sauce
  8. dip — to dunk
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. spring — of water
  11. root — of a plant
  12. rush — hurry
  13. mark — a grade
  14. key — the most important part
  15. key — for a lock
  16. root — of a word
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. mark — a trace
  19. cue — for pool
  20. foot — part of the body
  21. spring — a coil
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. root — the cause
  24. cue — a signal

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