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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
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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: cue · press · plane · charge · fan · row · root · date

  1. The ________________ took off on time.
  2. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  3. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  4. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  5. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  6. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  7. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  8. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  9. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  10. Did you ________________ the button?
  11. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  12. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  13. The tickets are free of ________________.
  14. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  15. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  16. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  17. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  18. Have you settled on a ________________?
  19. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  20. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  21. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  24. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. plane — an aircraft
  2. root — of a word
  3. row — a quarrel
  4. row — a line
  5. plane — a tool
  6. root — the cause
  7. cue — a signal
  8. plane — in geometry
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. press — to push
  11. press — a publisher
  12. charge — in control
  13. charge — a price
  14. date — the fruit
  15. fan — to cool the air
  16. cue — a hint
  17. root — of a plant
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. cue — for pool
  20. charge — electricity
  21. press — newspapers
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. row — to paddle
  24. date — on the calendar

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