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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: rash · key · file · stick · branch · pit · root · cabinet

  1. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  2. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  3. What do you think of the new ________________?
  4. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  5. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  6. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  7. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  8. This piece is in a major ________________.
  9. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  10. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  11. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  12. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  13. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  14. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  15. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  16. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  17. Don't do anything ________________.
  18. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  19. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  22. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  23. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  24. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a line of people
  2. stick — to attach or keep to
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. pit — in a race
  5. root — of a word
  6. pit — a hole
  7. file — a tool
  8. key — in music
  9. stick — a piece of wood
  10. file — a document
  11. root — of a plant
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. rash — a series
  14. rash — on the skin
  15. pit — a fruit stone
  16. branch — a division
  17. rash — hasty
  18. branch — of a tree
  19. key — the most important part
  20. key — for a lock
  21. root — the cause
  22. cabinet — a cupboard
  23. branch — of a bank
  24. stick — a piece of wood

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