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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
468
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: object · charge · safe · stem · wound · leaves · jam · board

  1. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  2. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  3. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  4. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  5. The tickets are free of ________________.
  6. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  7. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  8. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  9. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  12. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  15. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  16. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  19. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  22. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  23. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  24. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?

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

Answer key

  1. charge — electricity
  2. jam — a tight spot
  3. stem — of a plant
  4. wound — an injury
  5. charge — a price
  6. stem — to come from
  7. leaves — lets stay
  8. wound — an injury
  9. jam — to spread on bread
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. object — an aim
  12. board — a committee
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. object — a thing
  15. leaves — to go away
  16. wound — past of 'wind'
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. charge — in control
  19. jam — in traffic
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. board — a flat piece
  22. board — to get on
  23. stem — a stem cell
  24. object — to protest

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