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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: key · root · toast · roll · pitch · rash · suit · prune

  1. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  3. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  4. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  5. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  6. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  7. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  8. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  9. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  10. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  11. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. Don't do anything ________________.
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  16. We're on a ________________ here.
  17. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  18. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  19. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  22. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  23. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  24. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. pitch — a sales talk
  3. toast — the most admired
  4. prune — the fruit
  5. rash — a series
  6. root — the cause
  7. prune — to trim
  8. key — for a lock
  9. roll — a list
  10. pitch — a sports field
  11. toast — bread
  12. suit — in cards
  13. rash — hasty
  14. suit — to fit
  15. roll — a cake
  16. roll — on a roll
  17. root — of a word
  18. pitch — completely
  19. prune — to trim
  20. key — the most important part
  21. suit — clothes
  22. rash — on the skin
  23. toast — a drink to someone
  24. root — of a plant

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