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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: toast · mouse · chair · stand · mine · key · root · cue

  1. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  2. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  3. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  4. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  5. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  6. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  7. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  8. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  9. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  10. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  11. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  12. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  13. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  14. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  15. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  16. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  17. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  18. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  19. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  20. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  21. I can't ________________ this cold.
  22. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  23. This piece is in a major ________________.
  24. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a plant
  2. key — the most important part
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. mine — an explosive
  5. toast — bread
  6. mouse — for a computer
  7. mine — belonging to me
  8. cue — for pool
  9. toast — a drink to someone
  10. chair — to sit on
  11. toast — the most admired
  12. stand — on your feet
  13. chair — a professorship
  14. cue — a signal
  15. stand — for spectators
  16. cue — a hint
  17. mine — for digging
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. key — for a lock
  20. root — the cause
  21. stand — to bear
  22. chair — a leader
  23. key — in music
  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