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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 116 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: rash · pound · board · lie · pitcher · charge · bore · spell

  1. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  2. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  3. The tickets are free of ________________.
  4. He is an ace ________________.
  5. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  6. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  7. How do you ________________ your surname?
  8. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  9. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  10. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  11. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  12. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  13. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  14. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  15. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  16. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  17. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  18. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  19. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  20. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  21. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  22. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  23. Don't do anything ________________.
  24. Fill up this ________________ with water.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. rash — a series
  3. charge — a price
  4. pitcher — in baseball
  5. bore — to tire
  6. board — to get on
  7. spell — letters
  8. board — a flat piece
  9. lie — to recline
  10. rash — on the skin
  11. charge — in control
  12. board — a committee
  13. spell — magic
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. charge — electricity
  16. spell — a short time
  17. pound — to hit hard
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. bore — gave birth
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. pound — a weight
  22. pound — for dogs
  23. rash — hasty
  24. pitcher — a jug

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