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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: root · drill · field · charge · lean · bulb · bowl · leaves

  1. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  4. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  5. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  6. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  7. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  8. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  9. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. The tickets are free of ________________.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  19. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  20. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  21. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  24. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. root — of a plant
  3. drill — a practice
  4. field — a subject
  5. lean — to bend
  6. root — the cause
  7. lean — thin
  8. drill — the tool
  9. lean — to rest against
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. charge — a price
  12. bulb — for light
  13. bowl — a dish
  14. bulb — for light
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. drill — army training
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. field — farmland
  19. field — for sport
  20. bowl — to roll
  21. root — of a word
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. charge — electricity
  24. bowl — a football 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