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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.

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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: stand · root · current · calf · toast · plane · charge · swing

  1. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  4. The ________________ took off on time.
  5. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  6. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  7. The tickets are free of ________________.
  8. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  11. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  12. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  16. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  17. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  18. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  19. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  20. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  21. David sat on the ________________.
  22. I can't ________________ this cold.
  23. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  24. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — of the leg
  2. root — of a plant
  3. swing — in golf
  4. plane — an aircraft
  5. toast — bread
  6. charge — electricity
  7. charge — a price
  8. toast — a drink to someone
  9. current — happening now
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. charge — in control
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. current — of water
  14. current — electric
  15. toast — the most admired
  16. plane — in geometry
  17. stand — for spectators
  18. root — of a word
  19. stand — on your feet
  20. swing — music
  21. swing — to play on
  22. stand — to bear
  23. root — the cause
  24. plane — a tool

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