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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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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: toast · present · scale · charge · root · board · patient · rock

  1. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  2. The tickets are free of ________________.
  3. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  4. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  5. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  6. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  7. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  10. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  11. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  12. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  13. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  16. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  17. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  18. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  19. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  20. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  21. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  22. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  23. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  24. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?

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

Answer key

  1. board — to get on
  2. charge — a price
  3. root — of a word
  4. root — of a plant
  5. scale — for weighing
  6. toast — a drink to someone
  7. scale — in music
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. patient — a sick person
  10. toast — the most admired
  11. patient — calm and waiting
  12. charge — electricity
  13. root — the cause
  14. rock — music
  15. toast — bread
  16. rock — a stone
  17. present — the time now
  18. scale — size or range
  19. present — there
  20. charge — in control
  21. board — a committee
  22. board — a flat piece
  23. patient — a sick person
  24. present — a gift

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