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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 116 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 · rash · coach · bowl · charge · dip · current · wound

  1. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  2. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  3. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  4. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  5. Have you met the new head ________________?
  6. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  7. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. The tickets are free of ________________.
  10. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  11. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  12. Don't do anything ________________.
  13. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  14. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  15. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  16. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  17. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  18. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  21. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  22. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  23. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  24. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — of water
  2. wound — an injury
  3. root — of a plant
  4. charge — in control
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. dip — a sauce
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. current — happening now
  9. charge — a price
  10. dip — to sink
  11. wound — an injury
  12. rash — hasty
  13. root — the cause
  14. coach — pulled by horses
  15. charge — electricity
  16. root — of a word
  17. bowl — a football final
  18. wound — past of 'wind'
  19. current — electric
  20. rash — on the skin
  21. dip — to dunk
  22. bowl — to roll
  23. rash — a series
  24. bowl — a dish

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