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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: key · kick · tube · root · jam · object · temple · wake

  1. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  2. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  3. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  4. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  5. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  6. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  7. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  8. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  9. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  10. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  11. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  12. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  13. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  14. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  15. I'll be taking the ________________.
  16. This piece is in a major ________________.
  17. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  18. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  19. When was this ________________ built?
  20. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  21. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  22. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  23. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  24. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.

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

Answer key

  1. object — a thing
  2. object — an aim
  3. wake — to stop sleeping
  4. wake — before a funeral
  5. tube — a container
  6. wake — a trail
  7. key — the most important part
  8. key — for a lock
  9. kick — with a leg
  10. jam — in traffic
  11. tube — in a tire
  12. root — the cause
  13. jam — to spread on bread
  14. kick — in football
  15. tube — the underground
  16. key — in music
  17. root — of a plant
  18. jam — a tight spot
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. kick — a thrill
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. root — of a word
  23. object — to protest
  24. temple — side of the head

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