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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: charge · mate · shower · calf · bear · mouse · lash · cap

  1. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  2. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  3. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  4. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  5. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  6. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  7. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  8. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  9. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  10. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  11. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  12. The tickets are free of ________________.
  13. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  14. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  15. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  16. Have you found your soul ________________?
  17. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  18. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  19. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  20. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  21. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  22. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  23. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — for a computer
  2. cap — a hat
  3. mate — a friend
  4. cap — a lid
  5. mate — to breed
  6. charge — electricity
  7. calf — of the leg
  8. shower — a meteor shower
  9. charge — in control
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. charge — a price
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. shower — to wash
  15. bear — to put up with
  16. mate — a partner
  17. bear — the animal
  18. lash — a whip stroke
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. bear — the animal
  21. shower — rain
  22. cap — of ice
  23. lash — an eyelash
  24. lash — to lash out

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