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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: pound · bass · stem · rush · charge · root · rock · current

  1. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  2. The tickets are free of ________________.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  5. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  6. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  7. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  8. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  14. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  17. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  18. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  23. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — a stem cell
  2. charge — a price
  3. current — of water
  4. pound — to hit hard
  5. bass — the instrument
  6. root — the cause
  7. bass — the fish
  8. stem — to come from
  9. charge — electricity
  10. bass — low music
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. current — electric
  13. pound — for dogs
  14. pound — a weight
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. root — of a word
  17. rush — to hurry
  18. root — of a plant
  19. rock — a stone
  20. rock — music
  21. current — happening now
  22. charge — in control
  23. stem — of a plant
  24. rush — hurry

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