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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 116 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: stem · present · charge · bear · mine · leaves · board · wake

  1. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  3. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  4. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  5. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  6. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  7. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  8. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  9. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  10. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  11. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  16. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  17. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  18. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  19. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  20. The tickets are free of ________________.
  21. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  22. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  23. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  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. charge — in control
  2. stem — to come from
  3. board — a committee
  4. wake — before a funeral
  5. present — there
  6. board — a flat piece
  7. stem — a stem cell
  8. wake — to stop sleeping
  9. board — to get on
  10. mine — an explosive
  11. wake — a trail
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. stem — of a plant
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. bear — the animal
  16. bear — the animal
  17. mine — belonging to me
  18. bear — to put up with
  19. present — the time now
  20. charge — a price
  21. leaves — of a tree
  22. charge — electricity
  23. mine — for digging
  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