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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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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: jam · toast · bank · root · leaves · charge · file · press

  1. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  2. Did you ________________ the button?
  3. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  4. The tickets are free of ________________.
  5. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  8. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  9. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  12. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  15. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  16. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  17. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  18. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  19. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  22. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  23. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  24. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a word
  2. press — to push
  3. root — the cause
  4. charge — a price
  5. file — a document
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. toast — the most admired
  8. charge — in control
  9. bank — for money
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. jam — in traffic
  12. bank — for money
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. press — a publisher
  15. charge — electricity
  16. file — a tool
  17. toast — a drink to someone
  18. toast — bread
  19. bank — of a river
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. jam — a tight spot
  22. root — of a plant
  23. press — newspapers
  24. file — a line of people

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