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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: foot · root · saw · mug · charge · track · cap · lie

  1. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  2. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  3. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  4. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  5. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  6. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  7. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  10. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  11. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  12. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  13. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  14. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  15. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  16. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  17. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  20. He works in a ________________ mill.
  21. She's very handy with a ________________.
  22. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  23. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  24. The tickets are free of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. mug — a face
  3. foot — a measure
  4. saw — past of 'see'
  5. cap — a hat
  6. track — a path
  7. root — of a plant
  8. mug — to rob
  9. cap — of ice
  10. root — the cause
  11. track — to keep track
  12. mug — a cup
  13. foot — part of the body
  14. lie — to recline
  15. foot — the bottom
  16. root — of a word
  17. cap — a lid
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. charge — in control
  20. saw — the tool
  21. saw — the tool
  22. track — a song
  23. charge — electricity
  24. charge — a price

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