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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: date · root · march · bound · charge · mouse · lean · shower

  1. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  2. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  3. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  4. The tickets are free of ________________.
  5. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  8. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  9. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  10. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  11. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  12. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  13. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  14. Have you settled on a ________________?
  15. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  16. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  17. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  18. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  19. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  20. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  21. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  22. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  23. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  24. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. march — the month
  2. root — of a word
  3. lean — to rest against
  4. charge — a price
  5. march — music
  6. bound — certain
  7. shower — a meteor shower
  8. shower — to wash
  9. date — the fruit
  10. root — of a plant
  11. date — on the calendar
  12. mouse — for a computer
  13. shower — rain
  14. date — on the calendar
  15. march — the month
  16. bound — obliged
  17. charge — electricity
  18. charge — in control
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. lean — thin
  21. bound — tied together
  22. root — the cause
  23. lean — to bend
  24. mouse — the animal

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