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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.

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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: pitcher · fall · charge · bear · bound · face · bore · bank

  1. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  2. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  3. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  4. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  5. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  6. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  7. He is an ace ________________.
  8. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  9. The tickets are free of ________________.
  10. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  11. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  12. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  13. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  14. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  15. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  18. That was ________________ to happen.
  19. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  20. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  21. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  22. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  23. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  24. Where can I ________________ my mobile?

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. face — to point toward
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. bore — gave birth
  5. fall — to drop
  6. bear — the animal
  7. pitcher — in baseball
  8. charge — in control
  9. charge — a price
  10. bank — for money
  11. bank — for money
  12. bear — the animal
  13. bound — obliged
  14. fall — the season
  15. face — part of the head
  16. bound — tied together
  17. bank — of a river
  18. bound — certain
  19. bear — to put up with
  20. bore — to tire
  21. fall — to drop
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. face — to confront
  24. charge — electricity

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