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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.

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: saw · content · lash · fall · ball · root · charge · last

  1. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  2. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  3. The tickets are free of ________________.
  4. False peace will not ________________.
  5. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  6. He works in a ________________ mill.
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. She's very handy with a ________________.
  11. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  12. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  13. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  14. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  15. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  16. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  17. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  18. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  19. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  20. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  21. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  22. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. We need to address the ________________ of 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. content — videos and posts
  3. charge — a price
  4. last — to go on
  5. fall — to drop
  6. saw — the tool
  7. ball — a dance
  8. ball — a great time
  9. charge — electricity
  10. saw — the tool
  11. charge — in control
  12. content — happy
  13. fall — to drop
  14. lash — an eyelash
  15. content — the amount
  16. last — final
  17. fall — the season
  18. last — finally
  19. saw — past of 'see'
  20. ball — a round shape
  21. lash — a whip stroke
  22. root — of a word
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. root — the cause

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