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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 · calf · clip · can · march · charge · file · rock

  1. The tickets are free of ________________.
  2. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  3. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  4. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  5. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  6. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  7. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  12. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  13. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  17. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  18. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  21. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  22. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  23. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. charge — a price
  2. file — a line of people
  3. clip — a video
  4. charge — in control
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. march — the month
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. root — of a word
  10. can — a tin
  11. file — a tool
  12. march — the month
  13. charge — electricity
  14. can — a tin
  15. can — to be able to
  16. clip — for paper
  17. calf — of the leg
  18. file — a document
  19. rock — a stone
  20. root — of a plant
  21. clip — to cut
  22. march — music
  23. root — the cause
  24. rock — music

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