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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: hide · bore · temple · saw · pitcher · charge · shower · lash

  1. He is an ace ________________.
  2. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  3. When was this ________________ built?
  4. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  5. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  6. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  7. He works in a ________________ mill.
  8. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  9. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  10. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  11. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  12. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  13. The tickets are free of ________________.
  14. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  15. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  16. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  17. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  18. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  19. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  20. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  21. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  22. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  23. She's very handy with a ________________.
  24. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — in baseball
  2. shower — a meteor shower
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. charge — electricity
  5. charge — in control
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. saw — the tool
  8. bore — to drill
  9. saw — past of 'see'
  10. shower — to wash
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. charge — a price
  14. lash — a whip stroke
  15. lash — to lash out
  16. bore — gave birth
  17. lash — an eyelash
  18. temple — side of the head
  19. hide — animal skin
  20. bore — to tire
  21. shower — rain
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. saw — the tool
  24. temple — a place of worship

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