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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.

Make a worksheet

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
468
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: temple · wax · pitcher · charge · trunk · roll · ruler · root

  1. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  3. The tickets are free of ________________.
  4. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  5. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  6. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  7. We're on a ________________ here.
  8. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  9. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  10. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  11. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  12. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  13. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  14. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  15. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  16. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  17. When was this ________________ built?
  18. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  19. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  20. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  21. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  22. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  23. He is an ace ________________.
  24. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. trunk — of a tree
  3. charge — a price
  4. root — the cause
  5. ruler — a monarch
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. roll — on a roll
  8. wax — to grow
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. trunk — of a car
  11. wax — in the ear
  12. roll — a list
  13. temple — side of the head
  14. wax — for sculpting
  15. charge — electricity
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. trunk — of an elephant
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. roll — a cake
  22. root — of a word
  23. pitcher — in baseball
  24. root — of a plant

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