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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: bear · can · charge · calf · bark · dip · scale · wound

  1. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. The tickets are free of ________________.
  3. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  4. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  5. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  6. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  7. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  8. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  9. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  10. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  11. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  12. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  13. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  14. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  15. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  16. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  17. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  22. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. charge — a price
  3. bark — to shout
  4. wound — past of 'wind'
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. bark — of a tree
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. bear — the animal
  9. scale — size or range
  10. dip — a sauce
  11. wound — an injury
  12. bear — to put up with
  13. calf — of the leg
  14. bear — the animal
  15. wound — an injury
  16. charge — electricity
  17. bark — a dog's sound
  18. can — a tin
  19. scale — for weighing
  20. can — to be able to
  21. dip — to sink
  22. scale — in music
  23. can — a tin
  24. dip — to dunk

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