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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 116 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: coach · root · calf · wax · charge · current · wake · fall

  1. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  4. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  5. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  8. Have you met the new head ________________?
  9. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  10. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  11. The tickets are free of ________________.
  12. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  13. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  16. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  17. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  18. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  19. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  20. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  21. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  22. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  23. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  24. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.

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

Answer key

  1. fall — the season
  2. root — of a plant
  3. wake — before a funeral
  4. charge — in control
  5. charge — electricity
  6. current — of water
  7. root — the cause
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. fall — to drop
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. charge — a price
  12. calf — of the leg
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. current — electric
  15. fall — to drop
  16. coach — pulled by horses
  17. wax — for sculpting
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. wax — in the ear
  20. root — of a word
  21. wax — to grow
  22. current — happening now
  23. wake — to stop sleeping
  24. wake — a trail

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