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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.

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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: ground · trunk · face · key · root · present · vault · saw

  1. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  2. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  3. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  4. He works in a ________________ mill.
  5. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  6. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  7. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  8. There's no middle ________________.
  9. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  10. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  11. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  12. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  13. This piece is in a major ________________.
  14. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  15. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  16. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  17. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  18. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  19. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  20. She's very handy with a ________________.
  21. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  22. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a tree
  2. face — part of the head
  3. present — there
  4. saw — the tool
  5. root — of a plant
  6. vault — a safe
  7. vault — in gymnastics
  8. ground — a position
  9. root — the cause
  10. face — to point toward
  11. present — the time now
  12. key — for a lock
  13. key — in music
  14. present — a gift
  15. trunk — of a car
  16. ground — the earth
  17. face — to confront
  18. trunk — of an elephant
  19. ground — crushed
  20. saw — the tool
  21. vault — an arched ceiling
  22. root — of a word
  23. key — the most important part
  24. saw — past of 'see'

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