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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: straw · chip · charge · can · bore · dip · ball · jam

  1. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  2. The tickets are free of ________________.
  3. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  4. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  5. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  6. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  7. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  8. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  9. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  10. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  11. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  12. The King held a masked ________________.
  13. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  14. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  15. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  16. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  17. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  18. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  24. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. charge — a price
  3. straw — dry grass
  4. chip — to eat
  5. jam — a tight spot
  6. ball — a round shape
  7. jam — in traffic
  8. jam — to spread on bread
  9. bore — gave birth
  10. charge — in control
  11. dip — a sauce
  12. ball — a dance
  13. charge — electricity
  14. dip — to dunk
  15. straw — a straw man
  16. straw — to clutch at straws
  17. bore — to tire
  18. chip — for betting
  19. can — a tin
  20. chip — in a computer
  21. can — a tin
  22. can — to be able to
  23. ball — a great time
  24. bore — to drill

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