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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: pit · key · roll · rule · fork · mug · board · root

  1. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  6. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  7. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  8. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  9. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  12. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  13. We're on a ________________ here.
  14. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  15. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  16. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  17. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  18. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  21. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  22. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  23. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  24. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.

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

Answer key

  1. rule — a law
  2. key — in music
  3. pit — a hole
  4. mug — to rob
  5. root — of a word
  6. fork — to eat with
  7. roll — a cake
  8. mug — a face
  9. board — a flat piece
  10. key — for a lock
  11. fork — in a road
  12. key — the most important part
  13. roll — on a roll
  14. root — the cause
  15. board — a committee
  16. pit — in a race
  17. fork — a garden tool
  18. root — of a plant
  19. mug — a cup
  20. pit — a fruit stone
  21. board — to get on
  22. rule — government
  23. roll — a list
  24. rule — to rule out

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