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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
468
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: mug · root · rock · cabinet · field · last · charge · rush

  1. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  3. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  4. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  11. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  12. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. False peace will not ________________.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  20. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  21. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  24. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. field — farmland
  3. root — of a word
  4. cabinet — a cupboard
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. field — for sport
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. charge — electricity
  10. root — of a plant
  11. mug — a face
  12. charge — in control
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. last — finally
  15. charge — a price
  16. rock — music
  17. last — to go on
  18. rush — hurry
  19. field — a subject
  20. root — the cause
  21. rock — a stone
  22. mug — a cup
  23. mug — to rob
  24. last — final

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