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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.

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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: deal · bank · last · tube · charge · root · land · leaves

  1. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  4. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  5. The tickets are free of ________________.
  6. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  10. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  11. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  12. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  13. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  14. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  15. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  16. When are we going to ________________?
  17. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  18. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  19. False peace will not ________________.
  20. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  21. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  22. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  23. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  24. I'll be taking the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — a big deal
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. last — finally
  4. deal — to handle
  5. charge — a price
  6. tube — a container
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. root — of a plant
  10. land — ground
  11. land — a country
  12. last — final
  13. deal — an agreement
  14. bank — for money
  15. bank — of a river
  16. land — to come down
  17. root — of a word
  18. charge — electricity
  19. last — to go on
  20. charge — in control
  21. tube — in a tire
  22. root — the cause
  23. bank — for money
  24. tube — the underground

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