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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 120 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: calf · bore · pitcher · charge · bass · lie · root · rock

  1. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  2. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  5. The tickets are free of ________________.
  6. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  7. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  8. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  9. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  10. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  11. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  12. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  13. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  14. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  15. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  16. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. He is an ace ________________.
  19. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  20. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  21. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  22. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  23. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  24. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — electricity
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. charge — a price
  6. bass — the fish
  7. bass — the instrument
  8. charge — in control
  9. calf — of the leg
  10. bore — gave birth
  11. bore — to drill
  12. root — of a plant
  13. bore — to tire
  14. rock — to move gently
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. lie — to recline
  17. rock — music
  18. pitcher — in baseball
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. root — the cause
  21. rock — a stone
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. root — of a word
  24. bass — low music

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