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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
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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 · tube · can · scale · object · bore · cell · ball

  1. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  2. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  3. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  4. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  5. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  6. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  7. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  8. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  9. The tickets are free of ________________.
  10. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  14. I'll be taking the ________________.
  15. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  16. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  17. He was locked up in a ________________.
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  19. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  22. The King held a masked ________________.
  23. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  24. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a round shape
  2. object — to protest
  3. object — an aim
  4. cell — a phone
  5. bore — to tire
  6. bore — gave birth
  7. scale — in music
  8. tube — a container
  9. charge — a price
  10. scale — for weighing
  11. can — a tin
  12. can — to be able to
  13. object — a thing
  14. tube — the underground
  15. tube — in a tire
  16. cell — in biology
  17. cell — in a prison
  18. ball — a great time
  19. scale — size or range
  20. can — a tin
  21. charge — electricity
  22. ball — a dance
  23. charge — in control
  24. bore — to drill

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