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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: mark · bore · content · board · charge · bank · mate · roll

  1. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  2. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  3. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  4. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  5. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  6. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  7. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  8. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  9. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  10. The tickets are free of ________________.
  11. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  12. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  13. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  14. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. Have you found your soul ________________?
  17. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  18. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  19. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  20. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  21. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  22. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  23. We're on a ________________ here.
  24. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. board — a committee
  3. content — videos and posts
  4. bore — to tire
  5. bank — for money
  6. bank — for money
  7. bank — of a river
  8. mate — a friend
  9. content — the amount
  10. charge — a price
  11. board — a flat piece
  12. mark — a trace
  13. roll — a list
  14. charge — electricity
  15. mark — a grade
  16. mate — a partner
  17. mate — to breed
  18. content — happy
  19. mark — to pay attention
  20. bore — gave birth
  21. roll — a cake
  22. charge — in control
  23. roll — on a roll
  24. board — to get on

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