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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.

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: dip · can · rash · tube · ruler · date · perch · charge

  1. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  3. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  6. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  7. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  8. Have you settled on a ________________?
  9. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  10. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  13. The tickets are free of ________________.
  14. I'll be taking the ________________.
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  17. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  18. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  19. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  20. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  21. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  22. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  23. Don't do anything ________________.
  24. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. rash — a series
  4. can — to be able to
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. perch — the fish
  7. date — on the calendar
  8. date — on the calendar
  9. dip — a sauce
  10. dip — to dunk
  11. can — a tin
  12. rash — on the skin
  13. charge — a price
  14. tube — the underground
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. charge — in control
  19. tube — in a tire
  20. date — the fruit
  21. dip — to sink
  22. charge — electricity
  23. rash — hasty
  24. tube — a container

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