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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. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  5. Don't do anything ________________.
  6. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  11. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  12. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  13. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  14. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  15. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  16. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  19. The tickets are free of ________________.
  20. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  21. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  22. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  23. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  24. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a plant
  2. charge — in control
  3. mark — a trace
  4. file — a line of people
  5. rash — hasty
  6. staff — employees
  7. mark — a grade
  8. rash — on the skin
  9. charge — electricity
  10. file — a tool
  11. lean — to bend
  12. content — the amount
  13. rash — a series
  14. lean — to rest against
  15. lean — thin
  16. root — of a word
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. content — videos and posts
  19. charge — a price
  20. staff — a stick
  21. file — a document
  22. root — the cause
  23. content — happy
  24. staff — employees

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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