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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 · toast · staff · temple · cue · foot · root · leaves

  1. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  2. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  5. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  6. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  7. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  8. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  9. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  10. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  11. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  12. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  13. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  18. This piece is in a major ________________.
  19. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  22. When was this ________________ built?
  23. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  24. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.

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

Answer key

  1. toast — a drink to someone
  2. cue — a signal
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. staff — employees
  5. key — the most important part
  6. staff — employees
  7. toast — bread
  8. temple — side of the head
  9. root — of a plant
  10. root — of a word
  11. foot — a measure
  12. cue — for pool
  13. staff — a stick
  14. key — for a lock
  15. cue — a hint
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. key — in music
  19. foot — the bottom
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. foot — part of the body
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. root — the cause
  24. toast — the most admired

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