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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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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: pass · chest · root · saw · toast · charge · perch · band

  1. He works in a ________________ mill.
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  4. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  5. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  6. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  7. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  8. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  9. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  10. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  11. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  12. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  13. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  14. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  15. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  16. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  21. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. The tickets are free of ________________.
  24. She's very handy with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. root — of a plant
  3. toast — a drink to someone
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. band — a music group
  6. pass — to spend time
  7. saw — past of 'see'
  8. charge — in control
  9. chest — of your body
  10. perch — the fish
  11. root — of a word
  12. toast — the most admired
  13. band — a ring
  14. chest — of your body
  15. perch — for a bird
  16. band — a rubber band
  17. pass — a permit
  18. root — the cause
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. charge — electricity
  21. chest — a box
  22. toast — bread
  23. charge — a price
  24. saw — the 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