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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: content · root · object · charge · rush · toast · perch · stand

  1. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  4. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  5. The tickets are free of ________________.
  6. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  7. I can't ________________ this cold.
  8. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  13. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  14. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  15. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  16. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  17. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  18. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  19. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  20. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  21. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  22. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  23. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  24. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — for a bird
  2. root — of a plant
  3. object — to protest
  4. stand — on your feet
  5. charge — a price
  6. content — videos and posts
  7. stand — to bear
  8. content — happy
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. toast — bread
  11. rush — hurry
  12. charge — electricity
  13. rush — to hurry
  14. toast — the most admired
  15. content — the amount
  16. charge — in control
  17. object — an aim
  18. root — the cause
  19. stand — for spectators
  20. root — of a word
  21. toast — a drink to someone
  22. object — a thing
  23. perch — the fish
  24. perch — for a bird

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