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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: deal · key · net · root · pound · pit · stick · sharp

  1. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  2. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  3. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  4. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  5. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  6. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  7. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  8. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  9. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  10. It's one o'clock ________________.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  13. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  14. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  15. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  16. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  17. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  18. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  19. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  20. This piece is in a major ________________.
  21. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  22. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  23. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  24. He took the fish out of the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — a piece of wood
  2. sharp — clever
  3. key — the most important part
  4. root — of a plant
  5. deal — to handle
  6. deal — a big deal
  7. net — after costs
  8. pound — a weight
  9. pit — a fruit stone
  10. sharp — exactly
  11. key — for a lock
  12. pit — in a race
  13. stick — to attach or keep to
  14. pound — to hit hard
  15. stick — a piece of wood
  16. root — the cause
  17. pound — for dogs
  18. deal — an agreement
  19. pit — a hole
  20. key — in music
  21. root — of a word
  22. sharp — with an edge
  23. net — in sport
  24. net — for catching

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