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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: vault · stem · bear · root · mark · charge · bound · staff

  1. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. That was ________________ to happen.
  4. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  5. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  6. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  7. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  8. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  9. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  10. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  11. The tickets are free of ________________.
  12. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  13. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  14. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  15. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  16. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  17. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  18. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  19. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  20. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  21. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  22. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  23. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  24. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — electricity
  2. mark — a trace
  3. bound — certain
  4. root — the cause
  5. stem — a stem cell
  6. bear — the animal
  7. stem — of a plant
  8. mark — to pay attention
  9. bear — to put up with
  10. root — of a word
  11. charge — a price
  12. mark — a grade
  13. vault — in gymnastics
  14. staff — employees
  15. bear — the animal
  16. stem — to come from
  17. charge — in control
  18. bound — obliged
  19. staff — employees
  20. vault — a safe
  21. staff — a stick
  22. vault — an arched ceiling
  23. bound — tied together
  24. root — of a plant

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