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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: tube · board · toast · charge · root · foot · mark · pass

  1. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  2. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  3. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  4. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  5. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  6. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  7. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  8. The tickets are free of ________________.
  9. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  10. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  11. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  12. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  13. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  14. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  15. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  16. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  19. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  20. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  21. I'll be taking the ________________.
  22. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  23. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  24. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.

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

Answer key

  1. board — to get on
  2. toast — a drink to someone
  3. mark — a grade
  4. root — the cause
  5. tube — in a tire
  6. charge — electricity
  7. foot — part of the body
  8. charge — a price
  9. mark — a trace
  10. root — of a word
  11. board — a flat piece
  12. foot — the bottom
  13. root — of a plant
  14. board — a committee
  15. charge — in control
  16. foot — a measure
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. pass — a permit
  19. toast — bread
  20. pass — to succeed
  21. tube — the underground
  22. pass — to spend time
  23. tube — a container
  24. toast — the most admired

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