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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 120 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 · foot · root · bay · bound · bank · wave · mine

  1. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  2. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  5. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  6. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  7. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  8. The tickets are free of ________________.
  9. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  10. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  11. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  12. My mare is ________________ in color.
  13. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  14. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  15. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  16. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  17. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  18. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  19. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  20. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  21. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  22. That was ________________ to happen.
  23. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  24. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. foot — a measure
  3. bound — obliged
  4. bank — of a river
  5. bank — for money
  6. wave — a sudden rise
  7. wave — of the sea
  8. charge — a price
  9. bank — for money
  10. charge — electricity
  11. foot — the bottom
  12. bay — a horse colour
  13. mine — for digging
  14. root — of a word
  15. charge — in control
  16. root — the cause
  17. bay — a part of the sea
  18. bay — to keep at bay
  19. mine — belonging to me
  20. mine — an explosive
  21. foot — part of the body
  22. bound — certain
  23. wave — with your hand
  24. root — of a plant

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