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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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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: root · ruler · branch · bulb · face · rest · key · bat

  1. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  2. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  3. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  4. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  5. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  6. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  7. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  8. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  9. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  10. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  11. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  14. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  17. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  18. This piece is in a major ________________.
  19. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  20. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  21. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  24. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a plant
  2. bat — in an idiom
  3. key — the most important part
  4. rest — a break
  5. key — for a lock
  6. branch — of a tree
  7. root — the cause
  8. face — to point toward
  9. bat — the animal
  10. root — of a word
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. branch — of a bank
  14. ruler — a monarch
  15. bulb — for light
  16. rest — what's left
  17. rest — what's left
  18. key — in music
  19. bat — for baseball
  20. face — to confront
  21. face — part of the head
  22. bulb — for light
  23. branch — a division
  24. ruler — for measuring

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