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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: board · saw · lash · root · foot · bear · spell · charge

  1. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  2. How do you ________________ your surname?
  3. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  4. He works in a ________________ mill.
  5. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  6. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  7. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  8. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  9. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  10. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  11. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  12. The tickets are free of ________________.
  13. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  14. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  15. She's very handy with a ________________.
  16. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  17. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  18. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  19. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  20. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  21. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  22. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — part of the body
  2. spell — letters
  3. foot — a measure
  4. saw — the tool
  5. foot — the bottom
  6. lash — to lash out
  7. lash — an eyelash
  8. bear — to put up with
  9. charge — in control
  10. root — of a word
  11. lash — a whip stroke
  12. charge — a price
  13. spell — magic
  14. charge — electricity
  15. saw — the tool
  16. bear — the animal
  17. spell — a short time
  18. board — a committee
  19. board — a flat piece
  20. bear — the animal
  21. root — the cause
  22. root — of a plant
  23. board — to get on
  24. saw — past of 'see'

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