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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: fall · scale · court · charge · mark · bulb · foot · root

  1. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  2. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  3. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  4. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  5. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. The ball is in your ________________.
  8. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  9. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  10. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  13. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  14. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  15. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  16. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  19. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  20. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  21. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  22. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  23. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  24. The tickets are free of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — in music
  2. fall — the season
  3. mark — a grade
  4. court — of law
  5. scale — size or range
  6. bulb — for light
  7. court — for sport
  8. root — of a word
  9. charge — in control
  10. mark — to pay attention
  11. bulb — for light
  12. foot — the bottom
  13. foot — a measure
  14. court — of a king
  15. fall — to drop
  16. mark — a trace
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. charge — electricity
  19. scale — for weighing
  20. fall — to drop
  21. root — of a plant
  22. foot — part of the body
  23. root — the cause
  24. charge — a price

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