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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: can · stand · face · dip · charge · bear · date · root

  1. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  4. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  5. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  6. Have you settled on a ________________?
  7. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  8. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  9. The tickets are free of ________________.
  10. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  11. I can't ________________ this cold.
  12. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  13. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  14. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  15. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  16. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  17. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  18. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — on your feet
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. face — part of the head
  4. bear — the animal
  5. dip — a sauce
  6. date — on the calendar
  7. dip — to sink
  8. charge — electricity
  9. charge — a price
  10. face — to confront
  11. stand — to bear
  12. date — on the calendar
  13. date — the fruit
  14. face — to point toward
  15. root — the cause
  16. bear — to put up with
  17. root — of a word
  18. charge — in control
  19. can — to be able to
  20. root — of a plant
  21. can — a tin
  22. bear — the animal
  23. can — a tin
  24. dip — to dunk

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