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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: object · branch · key · ground · rock · prune · cue · bay

  1. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  3. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  4. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  5. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  6. There's no middle ________________.
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  13. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  16. My mare is ________________ in color.
  17. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  18. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  19. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  20. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  21. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  22. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  23. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  24. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. key — the most important part
  3. prune — the fruit
  4. object — to protest
  5. ground — the earth
  6. ground — a position
  7. rock — a stone
  8. object — a thing
  9. key — in music
  10. branch — of a tree
  11. key — for a lock
  12. cue — a signal
  13. bay — a part of the sea
  14. rock — music
  15. branch — of a bank
  16. bay — a horse colour
  17. prune — to trim
  18. object — an aim
  19. cue — a hint
  20. ground — crushed
  21. branch — a division
  22. prune — to trim
  23. rock — to move gently
  24. cue — for pool

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