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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
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: can · mouse · key · root · stand · nail · net · mate

  1. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  2. Have you found your soul ________________?
  3. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  4. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  5. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  6. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  7. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  8. I can't ________________ this cold.
  9. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  10. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  11. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. The ________________ went through the wall.
  14. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  15. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  22. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  23. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  24. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — for a computer
  2. mate — a partner
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. stand — for spectators
  5. net — after costs
  6. root — of a plant
  7. root — the cause
  8. stand — to bear
  9. stand — on your feet
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. key — the most important part
  12. key — in music
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. net — in sport
  15. root — of a word
  16. can — to be able to
  17. net — for catching
  18. can — a tin
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. can — a tin
  21. mate — a friend
  22. key — for a lock
  23. nail — on a finger
  24. mate — to breed

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