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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: hide · land · cabinet · charge · lash · foot · object · root

  1. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  2. When are we going to ________________?
  3. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  4. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  5. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  6. The tickets are free of ________________.
  7. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  8. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  9. What do you think of the new ________________?
  10. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  11. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  12. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  15. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  16. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  17. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  18. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  19. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  20. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  21. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  22. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  23. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  24. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — animal skin
  2. land — to come down
  3. lash — a whip stroke
  4. foot — a measure
  5. cabinet — a cupboard
  6. charge — a price
  7. object — a thing
  8. root — the cause
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. root — of a plant
  12. land — ground
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. object — to protest
  15. root — of a word
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. foot — part of the body
  18. charge — electricity
  19. lash — to lash out
  20. foot — the bottom
  21. lash — an eyelash
  22. land — a country
  23. object — an aim
  24. charge — in control

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