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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: toast · root · vault · calf · roll · charge · trunk · wax

  1. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  2. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  3. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  4. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  5. The tickets are free of ________________.
  6. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  7. We're on a ________________ here.
  8. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  9. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  10. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  11. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  12. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  13. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  14. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  15. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  16. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  17. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  18. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  19. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  20. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  21. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  22. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  23. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  24. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. root — the cause
  2. roll — a cake
  3. toast — a drink to someone
  4. root — of a word
  5. charge — a price
  6. wax — to grow
  7. roll — on a roll
  8. toast — bread
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. charge — electricity
  11. toast — the most admired
  12. roll — a list
  13. calf — of the leg
  14. trunk — of a tree
  15. vault — in gymnastics
  16. wax — in the ear
  17. vault — an arched ceiling
  18. root — of a plant
  19. charge — in control
  20. wax — for sculpting
  21. trunk — of a car
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. trunk — of an elephant
  24. vault — a safe

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