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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
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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: date · saw · wave · row · pass · charge · root · nail

  1. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  2. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  3. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  4. She's very handy with a ________________.
  5. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  6. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  7. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  8. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  9. The ________________ went through the wall.
  10. The tickets are free of ________________.
  11. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  12. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  13. Have you settled on a ________________?
  14. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  15. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  16. He works in a ________________ mill.
  17. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  18. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  19. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  20. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  21. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  22. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  23. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  24. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. pass — to succeed
  3. wave — a sudden rise
  4. saw — the tool
  5. row — a line
  6. wave — with your hand
  7. charge — in control
  8. nail — on a finger
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. charge — a price
  11. wave — of the sea
  12. root — of a word
  13. date — on the calendar
  14. root — of a plant
  15. pass — to spend time
  16. saw — the tool
  17. row — to paddle
  18. saw — past of 'see'
  19. row — a quarrel
  20. charge — electricity
  21. date — the fruit
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. date — on the calendar
  24. root — the cause

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