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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: charge · roll · capital · board · fan · plane · object · root

  1. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  2. We're on a ________________ here.
  3. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  4. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  5. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  6. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  7. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  8. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  9. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  10. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  11. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  12. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  13. The tickets are free of ________________.
  14. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  17. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  18. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  19. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  20. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  21. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  22. The ________________ took off on time.
  23. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  24. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. object — a thing
  2. roll — on a roll
  3. capital — money
  4. roll — a list
  5. capital — a big letter
  6. board — a flat piece
  7. plane — in geometry
  8. root — the cause
  9. board — to get on
  10. fan — to cool the air
  11. roll — a cake
  12. root — of a plant
  13. charge — a price
  14. plane — a tool
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. charge — in control
  18. board — a committee
  19. capital — a city
  20. charge — electricity
  21. root — of a word
  22. plane — an aircraft
  23. object — to protest
  24. object — an aim

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