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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: lie · cabinet · saw · season · root · ball · charge · foot

  1. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. The tickets are free of ________________.
  3. He works in a ________________ mill.
  4. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  5. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  6. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  7. She's very handy with a ________________.
  8. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  9. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  10. What do you think of the new ________________?
  11. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  12. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  13. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  14. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  15. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  16. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  17. Did you ________________ the meat?
  18. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  19. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  20. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  21. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  22. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  23. The King held a masked ________________.
  24. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. charge — a price
  3. saw — the tool
  4. foot — a measure
  5. lie — to recline
  6. root — the cause
  7. saw — the tool
  8. ball — a great time
  9. root — of a plant
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. ball — a round shape
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. season — in sport
  14. foot — the bottom
  15. root — of a word
  16. charge — in control
  17. season — to add flavour
  18. cabinet — a cupboard
  19. season — of the year
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. charge — electricity
  22. foot — part of the body
  23. ball — a dance
  24. lie — an untruth

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