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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 116 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.

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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: saw · key · mate · bank · root · fan · wax · bound

  1. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  4. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  5. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  8. He works in a ________________ mill.
  9. Have you found your soul ________________?
  10. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  11. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  12. That was ________________ to happen.
  13. She's very handy with a ________________.
  14. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  15. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  16. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  17. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  20. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  23. This piece is in a major ________________.
  24. Can you turn the ________________ on?

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

Answer key

  1. mate — to breed
  2. root — of a plant
  3. mate — a friend
  4. root — the cause
  5. root — of a word
  6. bound — obliged
  7. key — the most important part
  8. saw — the tool
  9. mate — a partner
  10. bank — for money
  11. wax — to grow
  12. bound — certain
  13. saw — the tool
  14. bound — tied together
  15. saw — past of 'see'
  16. bank — for money
  17. bank — of a river
  18. key — for a lock
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. wax — for sculpting
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. wax — in the ear
  23. key — in music
  24. fan — to cool the air

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