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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.

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: charge · spell · march · bay · mine · trunk · can · root

  1. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  2. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  3. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  4. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  5. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  6. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  7. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. The tickets are free of ________________.
  11. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  12. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  13. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  14. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  15. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  16. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. How do you ________________ your surname?
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  21. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  22. My mare is ________________ in color.
  23. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  24. The elephant has a huge ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. march — the month
  2. root — of a word
  3. bay — to keep at bay
  4. march — music
  5. spell — magic
  6. root — the cause
  7. spell — a short time
  8. can — a tin
  9. charge — electricity
  10. charge — a price
  11. mine — belonging to me
  12. bay — a part of the sea
  13. trunk — of a car
  14. mine — for digging
  15. charge — in control
  16. root — of a plant
  17. can — a tin
  18. spell — letters
  19. can — to be able to
  20. mine — an explosive
  21. march — the month
  22. bay — a horse colour
  23. trunk — of a tree
  24. trunk — of an elephant

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