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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: row · rush · wound · spell · march · bore · press · charge

  1. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  2. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  3. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  4. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  5. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  6. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  7. Did you ________________ the button?
  8. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  13. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  14. How do you ________________ your surname?
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  17. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  18. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  19. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  20. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  21. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  22. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. This looks like a gunshot ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. row — to paddle
  2. spell — magic
  3. march — the month
  4. wound — past of 'wind'
  5. spell — a short time
  6. march — music
  7. press — to push
  8. bore — to drill
  9. charge — electricity
  10. rush — hurry
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. march — the month
  13. press — a publisher
  14. spell — letters
  15. charge — a price
  16. bore — gave birth
  17. row — a quarrel
  18. bore — to tire
  19. press — newspapers
  20. row — a line
  21. wound — an injury
  22. charge — in control
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. wound — an injury

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