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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.

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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: board · key · bay · bound · root · temple · ground · mine

  1. That was ________________ to happen.
  2. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  3. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  4. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  7. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  8. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  11. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  12. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  13. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  14. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  15. There's no middle ________________.
  16. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  17. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  18. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  19. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  20. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  21. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  22. My mare is ________________ in color.
  23. When was this ________________ built?
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. bound — certain
  2. temple — side of the head
  3. board — a flat piece
  4. root — the cause
  5. key — in music
  6. root — of a word
  7. bound — tied together
  8. root — of a plant
  9. key — the most important part
  10. mine — belonging to me
  11. bound — obliged
  12. mine — an explosive
  13. mine — for digging
  14. board — to get on
  15. ground — a position
  16. bay — a part of the sea
  17. ground — the earth
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. board — a committee
  20. ground — crushed
  21. bay — to keep at bay
  22. bay — a horse colour
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. key — for a lock

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