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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 120 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: staff · root · season · press · stand · spell · charge · cap

  1. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  2. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  3. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  4. How do you ________________ your surname?
  5. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  6. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  7. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  8. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  9. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  10. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  11. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  12. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  13. I can't ________________ this cold.
  14. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  15. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  16. Did you ________________ the meat?
  17. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  18. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  19. The tickets are free of ________________.
  20. Did you ________________ the button?
  21. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  22. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  23. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  24. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — a stick
  2. root — the cause
  3. stand — for spectators
  4. spell — letters
  5. staff — employees
  6. staff — employees
  7. root — of a word
  8. charge — in control
  9. cap — a hat
  10. root — of a plant
  11. season — of the year
  12. spell — magic
  13. stand — to bear
  14. season — in sport
  15. cap — a lid
  16. season — to add flavour
  17. charge — electricity
  18. stand — on your feet
  19. charge — a price
  20. press — to push
  21. press — newspapers
  22. press — a publisher
  23. cap — of ice
  24. spell — a short time

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