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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: charge · spell · pit · cue · pound · sharp · calf · root

  1. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  2. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  3. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  4. The tickets are free of ________________.
  5. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  6. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  7. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  8. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  11. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  12. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  13. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  14. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  15. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  16. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  17. It's one o'clock ________________.
  18. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  19. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  20. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  21. How do you ________________ your surname?
  22. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  23. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  24. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — a short time
  2. sharp — clever
  3. cue — a signal
  4. charge — a price
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. charge — in control
  7. sharp — with an edge
  8. cue — for pool
  9. charge — electricity
  10. spell — magic
  11. cue — a hint
  12. root — of a plant
  13. pit — in a race
  14. pound — to hit hard
  15. pit — a hole
  16. pit — a fruit stone
  17. sharp — exactly
  18. pound — for dogs
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. root — the cause
  21. spell — letters
  22. pound — a weight
  23. calf — of the leg
  24. root — of a word

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