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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: bowl · root · leaves · key · ball · vault · wake · bore

  1. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  2. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  5. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  6. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  9. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  10. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  11. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  14. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  15. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  16. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  17. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  18. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  19. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  20. The King held a masked ________________.
  21. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  22. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  23. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  24. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to tire
  2. vault — in gymnastics
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. ball — a round shape
  5. bowl — to roll
  6. vault — a safe
  7. key — in music
  8. root — of a word
  9. ball — a great time
  10. bore — to drill
  11. root — the cause
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. key — the most important part
  14. wake — a trail
  15. bore — gave birth
  16. leaves — to go away
  17. root — of a plant
  18. wake — to stop sleeping
  19. bowl — a dish
  20. ball — a dance
  21. key — for a lock
  22. wake — before a funeral
  23. vault — an arched ceiling
  24. bowl — a football final

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