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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: foot · roll · leaves · drill · charge · root · fan · mug

  1. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  4. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  9. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  10. The tickets are free of ________________.
  11. We're on a ________________ here.
  12. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  13. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  14. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  17. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  18. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  19. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  20. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  21. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  22. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. foot — part of the body
  5. mug — a face
  6. drill — the tool
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. root — of a word
  9. drill — army training
  10. charge — a price
  11. roll — on a roll
  12. fan — to cool the air
  13. roll — a list
  14. charge — electricity
  15. mug — to rob
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. drill — a practice
  18. root — the cause
  19. foot — the bottom
  20. foot — a measure
  21. root — of a plant
  22. charge — in control
  23. mug — a cup
  24. roll — a cake

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