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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 120 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
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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: root · file · rash · deal · key · tube · bore · net

  1. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  2. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  3. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  4. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  5. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  8. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  9. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  10. Don't do anything ________________.
  11. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  12. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  13. I'll be taking the ________________.
  14. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  15. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  16. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  17. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  18. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  19. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  20. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  21. This piece is in a major ________________.
  22. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  23. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  24. He took the fish out of the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — in a tire
  2. bore — gave birth
  3. rash — a series
  4. file — a tool
  5. bore — to drill
  6. key — the most important part
  7. net — after costs
  8. root — of a word
  9. key — for a lock
  10. rash — hasty
  11. root — of a plant
  12. file — a document
  13. tube — the underground
  14. deal — to handle
  15. root — the cause
  16. deal — an agreement
  17. rash — on the skin
  18. deal — a big deal
  19. file — a line of people
  20. tube — a container
  21. key — in music
  22. bore — to tire
  23. net — in sport
  24. net — for catching

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