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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 124 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: last · plane · root · temple · net · charge · foot · stick

  1. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  2. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  3. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  4. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  5. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  6. When was this ________________ built?
  7. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  8. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  9. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  10. False peace will not ________________.
  11. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  12. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  13. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  14. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  15. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  16. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  17. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  18. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  19. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  20. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  21. The tickets are free of ________________.
  22. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  23. The ________________ took off on time.
  24. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!

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

Answer key

  1. foot — part of the body
  2. net — in sport
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. charge — in control
  5. temple — side of the head
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. last — finally
  8. plane — a tool
  9. net — for catching
  10. last — to go on
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. foot — a measure
  13. root — of a word
  14. net — after costs
  15. stick — a piece of wood
  16. root — the cause
  17. stick — to attach or keep to
  18. foot — the bottom
  19. charge — electricity
  20. root — of a plant
  21. charge — a price
  22. plane — in geometry
  23. plane — an aircraft
  24. last — final

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