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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: root · ball · key · can · spell · chair · fan · rash

  1. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  2. The King held a masked ________________.
  3. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  7. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  8. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  9. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  12. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  13. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  14. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  15. Don't do anything ________________.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  18. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  19. How do you ________________ your surname?
  20. This piece is in a major ________________.
  21. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  22. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  23. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  24. Hard work is the ________________ to success.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a word
  2. ball — a dance
  3. ball — a round shape
  4. can — a tin
  5. can — a tin
  6. rash — a series
  7. spell — a short time
  8. fan — to cool the air
  9. chair — to sit on
  10. key — for a lock
  11. ball — a great time
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. chair — a professorship
  14. spell — magic
  15. rash — hasty
  16. can — to be able to
  17. root — the cause
  18. chair — a leader
  19. spell — letters
  20. key — in music
  21. rash — on the skin
  22. root — of a plant
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. key — the most important part

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