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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: root · row · pitch · key · bound · foot · hand · plane

  1. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  3. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  4. That was ________________ to happen.
  5. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  8. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  9. The ________________ took off on time.
  10. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  11. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  12. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  13. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  16. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  17. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  18. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  19. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  22. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  23. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  24. The players ran onto the football ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. row — to paddle
  3. key — for a lock
  4. bound — certain
  5. foot — part of the body
  6. bound — obliged
  7. root — of a plant
  8. hand — in cards
  9. plane — an aircraft
  10. foot — the bottom
  11. hand — help
  12. pitch — completely
  13. foot — a measure
  14. key — in music
  15. hand — part of the body
  16. plane — in geometry
  17. pitch — a sales talk
  18. root — the cause
  19. row — a quarrel
  20. key — the most important part
  21. row — a line
  22. root — of a word
  23. bound — tied together
  24. pitch — a sports field

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