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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: scale · stem · dip · mate · root · land · mug · charge

  1. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  2. Have you found your soul ________________?
  3. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  4. When are we going to ________________?
  5. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  6. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  7. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  8. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  9. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  10. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  11. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  12. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  13. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  14. The tickets are free of ________________.
  15. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  16. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  17. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  18. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  19. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  20. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  21. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  22. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  24. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. mate — a partner
  3. stem — of a plant
  4. land — to come down
  5. stem — to come from
  6. root — of a plant
  7. land — ground
  8. dip — a sauce
  9. mate — to breed
  10. dip — to dunk
  11. scale — in music
  12. scale — for weighing
  13. mug — a face
  14. charge — a price
  15. mate — a friend
  16. root — the cause
  17. stem — a stem cell
  18. scale — size or range
  19. charge — in control
  20. charge — electricity
  21. mug — a cup
  22. land — a country
  23. mug — to rob
  24. root — of a word

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