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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: suit · mine · key · mug · staff · march · root · bear

  1. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  2. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  3. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  7. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  8. This piece is in a major ________________.
  9. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  10. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  14. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  15. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  16. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  17. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  18. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  19. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  20. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  24. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. march — the month
  3. mine — for digging
  4. suit — in cards
  5. mug — to rob
  6. key — for a lock
  7. mine — belonging to me
  8. key — in music
  9. bear — the animal
  10. mine — an explosive
  11. mug — a cup
  12. suit — to fit
  13. root — of a plant
  14. march — music
  15. bear — the animal
  16. march — the month
  17. staff — employees
  18. bear — to put up with
  19. root — the cause
  20. mug — a face
  21. key — the most important part
  22. suit — clothes
  23. staff — a stick
  24. root — of a word

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