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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: root · shower · staff · ruler · stem · charge · mark · mate

  1. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  2. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  3. Have you found your soul ________________?
  4. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  5. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  8. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. The tickets are free of ________________.
  11. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  12. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  13. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  14. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  17. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  18. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  19. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  20. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  21. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  22. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  23. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. stem — of a plant
  2. mark — a grade
  3. mate — a partner
  4. root — of a word
  5. shower — rain
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. stem — a stem cell
  8. charge — in control
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. charge — a price
  11. root — of a plant
  12. staff — employees
  13. ruler — a monarch
  14. mate — to breed
  15. mark — a trace
  16. staff — a stick
  17. staff — employees
  18. shower — to wash
  19. stem — to come from
  20. charge — electricity
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. root — the cause
  23. shower — a meteor shower
  24. mate — a friend

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