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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.

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: safe · row · track · charge · degree · rash · root · bass

  1. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  2. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  3. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  4. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  5. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  8. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  9. Don't do anything ________________.
  10. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  11. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  12. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  13. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  14. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  17. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  18. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  19. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  20. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  23. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  24. The tickets are free of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — electricity
  2. row — a quarrel
  3. charge — in control
  4. track — a path
  5. row — to paddle
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. root — of a plant
  8. bass — low music
  9. rash — hasty
  10. root — the cause
  11. rash — a series
  12. row — a line
  13. bass — the instrument
  14. degree — an amount
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. degree — temperature
  17. track — to keep track
  18. degree — from a university
  19. track — a song
  20. bass — the fish
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. rash — on the skin
  23. root — of a word
  24. charge — a price

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