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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: ball · charge · bore · can · cap · toast · bark · cue

  1. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  2. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  3. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  4. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  5. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  6. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  7. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  10. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  13. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  14. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  15. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  16. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  17. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  18. The tickets are free of ________________.
  19. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  20. The King held a masked ________________.
  21. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  24. The kitten curled into a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a signal
  2. bore — to tire
  3. bark — a dog's sound
  4. cap — a hat
  5. cue — for pool
  6. cap — a lid
  7. bore — to drill
  8. can — to be able to
  9. bark — of a tree
  10. cap — of ice
  11. can — a tin
  12. toast — the most admired
  13. cue — a hint
  14. charge — in control
  15. bark — to shout
  16. charge — electricity
  17. toast — bread
  18. charge — a price
  19. toast — a drink to someone
  20. ball — a dance
  21. bore — gave birth
  22. can — a tin
  23. ball — a great time
  24. ball — a round shape

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