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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.

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: root · shower · fine · mug · can · sharp · mate · charge

  1. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  2. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  4. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  5. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  6. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  7. It's one o'clock ________________.
  8. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  9. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  10. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  11. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. Have you found your soul ________________?
  16. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  19. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. The tickets are free of ________________.
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a face
  2. fine — high quality
  3. mate — a friend
  4. root — of a word
  5. shower — a meteor shower
  6. charge — in control
  7. sharp — exactly
  8. sharp — clever
  9. shower — to wash
  10. mate — to breed
  11. root — the cause
  12. mug — to rob
  13. shower — rain
  14. can — a tin
  15. mate — a partner
  16. fine — a penalty
  17. can — a tin
  18. root — of a plant
  19. sharp — with an edge
  20. fine — all right
  21. charge — a price
  22. mug — a cup
  23. charge — electricity
  24. can — to be able to

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