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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: root · saw · clip · charge · racket · ruler · rock · rush

  1. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  2. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  5. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  6. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  7. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  8. He works in a ________________ mill.
  9. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  10. She's very handy with a ________________.
  11. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  12. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  13. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. The tickets are free of ________________.
  17. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  18. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  19. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  22. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — to hurry
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. racket — a loud noise
  5. charge — in control
  6. clip — to cut
  7. clip — for paper
  8. saw — the tool
  9. racket — for tennis
  10. saw — the tool
  11. root — of a word
  12. rock — a stone
  13. saw — past of 'see'
  14. rock — music
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. charge — a price
  17. racket — for tennis
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. root — of a plant
  20. rush — hurry
  21. clip — a video
  22. charge — electricity
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. root — the cause

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