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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. He was locked up in a ________________.
  2. The tickets are free of ________________.
  3. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  4. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  5. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  6. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  7. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  8. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  9. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  10. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  13. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  14. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  15. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  20. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  21. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  22. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  23. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  24. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.

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

Answer key

  1. cell — in a prison
  2. charge — a price
  3. board — a flat piece
  4. cell — in biology
  5. cell — a phone
  6. root — the cause
  7. charge — electricity
  8. board — a committee
  9. root — of a plant
  10. charge — in control
  11. can — a tin
  12. root — of a word
  13. scale — size or range
  14. foot — part of the body
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. can — a tin
  17. foot — a measure
  18. can — to be able to
  19. scale — in music
  20. foot — the bottom
  21. ruler — a monarch
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. scale — for weighing
  24. board — to get on

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