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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.

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: key · bank · root · can · wax · branch · file · charge

  1. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  2. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  3. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  4. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  5. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  6. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  7. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  8. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  9. The tickets are free of ________________.
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  15. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  18. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  19. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  20. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  21. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  22. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  23. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  24. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.

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

Answer key

  1. key — the most important part
  2. bank — for money
  3. root — of a word
  4. key — for a lock
  5. bank — for money
  6. branch — of a bank
  7. file — a document
  8. wax — in the ear
  9. charge — a price
  10. key — in music
  11. can — a tin
  12. wax — to grow
  13. can — to be able to
  14. branch — a division
  15. root — of a plant
  16. can — a tin
  17. file — a tool
  18. charge — in control
  19. file — a line of people
  20. root — the cause
  21. charge — electricity
  22. bank — of a river
  23. wax — for sculpting
  24. branch — of a tree

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