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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.

Make a worksheet

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: mouse · net · board · dip · root · fine · key · file

  1. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  2. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  4. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  5. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  6. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  7. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  8. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  9. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  12. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  13. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  14. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  15. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  16. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  17. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  18. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  19. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  20. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  21. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  22. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  23. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. key — the most important part
  4. dip — a sauce
  5. board — a flat piece
  6. board — to get on
  7. fine — high quality
  8. file — a tool
  9. fine — all right
  10. key — in music
  11. root — of a word
  12. mouse — for a computer
  13. root — the cause
  14. file — a line of people
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. file — a document
  17. net — for catching
  18. root — of a plant
  19. net — after costs
  20. dip — to dunk
  21. board — a committee
  22. net — in sport
  23. dip — to sink
  24. mouse — the animal

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