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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. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  2. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  3. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  4. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  5. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  6. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  7. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  8. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  9. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  10. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  11. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  12. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  13. Did you ________________ the meat?
  14. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  15. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  16. We're on a ________________ here.
  17. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  18. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  19. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  20. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  21. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  22. The tickets are free of ________________.
  23. The ________________ took off on time.
  24. Spring is a pleasant ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — of a river
  2. plane — a tool
  3. root — the cause
  4. roll — a list
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. fan — to cool the air
  8. wake — to stop sleeping
  9. season — in sport
  10. bank — for money
  11. root — of a plant
  12. charge — in control
  13. season — to add flavour
  14. bank — for money
  15. wake — before a funeral
  16. roll — on a roll
  17. root — of a word
  18. plane — in geometry
  19. charge — electricity
  20. roll — a cake
  21. wake — a trail
  22. charge — a price
  23. plane — an aircraft
  24. season — of the year

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