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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 · mate · suit · land · root · deal · saw · lie

  1. He works in a ________________ mill.
  2. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  3. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  4. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  5. She's very handy with a ________________.
  6. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. When are we going to ________________?
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  15. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  16. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. Have you found your soul ________________?
  20. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  21. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  22. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  23. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  24. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. deal — to handle
  3. mate — to breed
  4. land — ground
  5. saw — the tool
  6. saw — past of 'see'
  7. key — for a lock
  8. root — of a plant
  9. key — in music
  10. land — a country
  11. suit — to fit
  12. land — to come down
  13. suit — in cards
  14. deal — an agreement
  15. root — the cause
  16. lie — to recline
  17. key — the most important part
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. mate — a partner
  20. suit — clothes
  21. mate — a friend
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. deal — a big deal
  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