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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: toast · stem · roll · foot · charge · key · mark · leaves

  1. We're on a ________________ here.
  2. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  3. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  4. The tickets are free of ________________.
  5. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  6. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  7. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  8. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  9. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  10. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  11. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  12. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  15. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  16. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  17. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  18. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  19. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  20. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  21. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  22. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  23. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  24. This piece is in a major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — on a roll
  2. foot — the bottom
  3. leaves — to go away
  4. charge — a price
  5. key — the most important part
  6. foot — a measure
  7. leaves — lets stay
  8. toast — bread
  9. key — for a lock
  10. charge — electricity
  11. toast — a drink to someone
  12. toast — the most admired
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. mark — to pay attention
  15. roll — a list
  16. stem — of a plant
  17. mark — a grade
  18. stem — a stem cell
  19. charge — in control
  20. mark — a trace
  21. roll — a cake
  22. stem — to come from
  23. foot — part of the body
  24. key — in music

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