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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
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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: net · pop · fan · key · degree · current · root · pass

  1. We're almost out of ________________.
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  7. You don't need to ________________ round.
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  12. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  13. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  14. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  17. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  18. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  19. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  20. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  23. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — soda
  2. root — of a plant
  3. current — happening now
  4. net — for catching
  5. current — electric
  6. root — the cause
  7. pop — to visit
  8. current — of water
  9. net — after costs
  10. key — in music
  11. root — of a word
  12. degree — temperature
  13. pass — a permit
  14. pop — music
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. key — for a lock
  17. net — in sport
  18. degree — an amount
  19. fan — to cool the air
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. key — the most important part
  22. pass — to spend time
  23. degree — from a university
  24. pass — to succeed

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