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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 · jam · tube · fall · temple · root · mug · current

  1. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  2. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. The tickets are free of ________________.
  7. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  8. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  9. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  12. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  13. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  16. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  17. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  18. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  19. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  20. When was this ________________ built?
  21. I'll be taking the ________________.
  22. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  23. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  24. He refilled his coffee ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a plant
  2. mug — a face
  3. current — electric
  4. jam — in traffic
  5. current — of water
  6. charge — a price
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. jam — to spread on bread
  9. root — the cause
  10. mug — to rob
  11. fall — the season
  12. charge — electricity
  13. charge — in control
  14. current — happening now
  15. temple — side of the head
  16. fall — to drop
  17. tube — a container
  18. fall — to drop
  19. tube — in a tire
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. tube — the underground
  22. jam — a tight spot
  23. root — of a word
  24. mug — a cup

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