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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 · cabinet · stock · jam · root · dip · arm · bass

  1. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  2. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  3. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  4. My father caught me by the ________________.
  5. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  6. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  7. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  8. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  9. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  10. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  11. This piece is in a major ________________.
  12. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  13. The ________________ market has crashed.
  14. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  15. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  16. What do you think of the new ________________?
  17. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  18. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  19. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  22. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  23. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  24. Would you like some apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. dip — a sauce
  2. root — the cause
  3. stock — a soup base
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. jam — a tight spot
  6. cabinet — a cupboard
  7. dip — to sink
  8. root — of a plant
  9. bass — the instrument
  10. root — of a word
  11. key — in music
  12. jam — in traffic
  13. stock — shares
  14. stock — goods
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. bass — low music
  19. dip — to dunk
  20. key — the most important part
  21. key — for a lock
  22. arm — a part of something
  23. bass — the fish
  24. jam — to spread on bread

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