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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: deal · ball · rock · pound · date · charge · rush · content

  1. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  5. Have you settled on a ________________?
  6. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  7. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  8. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  11. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  12. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  13. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  14. The tickets are free of ________________.
  15. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  20. The King held a masked ________________.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  23. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  24. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. content — videos and posts
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. content — the amount
  5. date — on the calendar
  6. pound — a weight
  7. deal — an agreement
  8. content — happy
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. pound — to hit hard
  11. ball — a great time
  12. charge — electricity
  13. deal — to handle
  14. charge — a price
  15. date — on the calendar
  16. rock — music
  17. charge — in control
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. pound — for dogs
  20. ball — a dance
  21. rush — hurry
  22. deal — a big deal
  23. ball — a round shape
  24. date — the fruit

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