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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
468
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: current · key · mark · foot · root · scale · court · ground

  1. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  4. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. There's no middle ________________.
  11. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  20. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  21. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  22. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  23. The ball is in your ________________.
  24. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — in music
  2. root — of a plant
  3. ground — crushed
  4. court — of law
  5. mark — a trace
  6. mark — a grade
  7. key — the most important part
  8. current — of water
  9. current — happening now
  10. ground — a position
  11. foot — a measure
  12. key — in music
  13. foot — the bottom
  14. key — for a lock
  15. foot — part of the body
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. court — of a king
  18. current — electric
  19. ground — the earth
  20. scale — size or range
  21. scale — for weighing
  22. root — the cause
  23. court — for sport
  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