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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: season · pass · fan · root · squash · charge · snap · wound

  1. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  2. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  3. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  4. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  5. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  6. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  7. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  10. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  11. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  12. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  13. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  14. The tickets are free of ________________.
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  17. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  18. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  19. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  20. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  21. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  22. Did you ________________ the meat?
  23. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  24. Spring is a pleasant ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wound — an injury
  2. root — the cause
  3. snap — to snap out of it
  4. charge — in control
  5. squash — the vegetable
  6. season — in sport
  7. root — of a plant
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. snap — to speak sharply
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. squash — the sport
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. wound — past of 'wind'
  14. charge — a price
  15. pass — a permit
  16. root — of a word
  17. wound — an injury
  18. pass — to succeed
  19. charge — electricity
  20. squash — to crush
  21. snap — to click
  22. season — to add flavour
  23. fan — to cool the air
  24. season — of the year

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