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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: bay · tube · key · press · foot · root · suit · row

  1. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  2. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  3. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  9. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  10. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  11. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  12. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  13. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  14. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  15. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  16. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  17. Did you ________________ the button?
  18. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  19. I'll be taking the ________________.
  20. When will it ________________ you to start?
  21. My mare is ________________ in color.
  22. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  23. This piece is in a major ________________.
  24. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a plant
  2. row — a line
  3. foot — a measure
  4. suit — in cards
  5. row — a quarrel
  6. key — the most important part
  7. key — for a lock
  8. root — the cause
  9. bay — to keep at bay
  10. root — of a word
  11. suit — clothes
  12. press — a publisher
  13. row — to paddle
  14. press — newspapers
  15. tube — a container
  16. foot — part of the body
  17. press — to push
  18. tube — in a tire
  19. tube — the underground
  20. suit — to fit
  21. bay — a horse colour
  22. bay — a part of the sea
  23. key — in music
  24. foot — the bottom

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