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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.

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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: mine · bore · charge · calf · bank · race · sharp · fine

  1. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  2. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  3. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  4. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  5. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  6. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  7. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  8. It's one o'clock ________________.
  9. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  10. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  11. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  12. The tickets are free of ________________.
  13. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  14. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  15. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  16. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  17. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  18. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  19. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  20. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  21. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  22. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  23. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  24. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — electricity
  2. bore — to drill
  3. race — the arms race
  4. fine — all right
  5. charge — in control
  6. mine — for digging
  7. bore — gave birth
  8. sharp — exactly
  9. sharp — clever
  10. calf — of the leg
  11. fine — a penalty
  12. charge — a price
  13. bank — for money
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. race — humankind
  17. race — a contest
  18. fine — high quality
  19. mine — belonging to me
  20. sharp — with an edge
  21. bank — for money
  22. mine — an explosive
  23. bore — to tire
  24. bank — of a river

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