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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: can · bowl · stem · calf · content · charge · shower · toast

  1. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  2. The tickets are free of ________________.
  3. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  4. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  5. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  9. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  10. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  11. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  12. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  13. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  14. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  15. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  16. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  19. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  20. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  21. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  24. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — of a plant
  2. charge — a price
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. charge — electricity
  5. toast — a drink to someone
  6. can — a tin
  7. can — a tin
  8. shower — a meteor shower
  9. shower — rain
  10. calf — of the leg
  11. shower — to wash
  12. toast — the most admired
  13. content — videos and posts
  14. content — the amount
  15. bowl — a dish
  16. content — happy
  17. can — to be able to
  18. bowl — to roll
  19. stem — a stem cell
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. bowl — a football final
  22. toast — bread
  23. stem — to come from
  24. charge — in control

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