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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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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. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  3. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  4. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  5. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  6. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  7. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  8. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  9. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  12. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  13. The tickets are free of ________________.
  14. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  15. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  16. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  17. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  18. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  19. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. He was locked up in a ________________.
  22. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. straw — dry grass
  3. rest — what's left
  4. root — of a plant
  5. root — the cause
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. straw — a straw man
  8. root — of a word
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. wax — for sculpting
  12. rest — what's left
  13. charge — a price
  14. straw — to clutch at straws
  15. rest — a break
  16. charge — electricity
  17. wax — in the ear
  18. wax — to grow
  19. perch — the fish
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. cell — in a prison
  22. cell — in biology
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. cell — a phone

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