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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: charge · lie · bank · root · fall · pit · sharp · rash

  1. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  2. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  3. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  4. It's one o'clock ________________.
  5. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  6. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  7. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  8. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  9. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  10. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  11. The tickets are free of ________________.
  12. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  13. Don't do anything ________________.
  14. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  15. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  16. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  17. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  18. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  19. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  20. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  23. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  24. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — on the skin
  2. fall — to drop
  3. sharp — with an edge
  4. sharp — exactly
  5. bank — for money
  6. fall — the season
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. pit — a fruit stone
  9. rash — a series
  10. pit — a hole
  11. charge — a price
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. rash — hasty
  14. fall — to drop
  15. charge — electricity
  16. root — of a plant
  17. bank — for money
  18. charge — in control
  19. root — the cause
  20. bank — of a river
  21. lie — to recline
  22. pit — in a race
  23. sharp — clever
  24. root — of a word

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