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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: row · rash · charge · calf · wave · game · dip · mug

  1. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  2. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  3. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  4. That was a fun ________________.
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  7. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  8. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  9. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  10. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  11. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  12. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  13. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  14. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  15. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  16. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  17. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  20. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  21. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  22. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  23. The tickets are free of ________________.
  24. Don't do anything ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. row — a quarrel
  2. wave — a sudden rise
  3. rash — a series
  4. game — a match
  5. mug — a face
  6. charge — in control
  7. rash — on the skin
  8. wave — of the sea
  9. calf — of the leg
  10. dip — to dunk
  11. dip — a sauce
  12. dip — to sink
  13. row — to paddle
  14. mug — a cup
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. game — wild animals
  17. row — a line
  18. mug — to rob
  19. wave — with your hand
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. charge — electricity
  22. game — a kind of play
  23. charge — a price
  24. rash — hasty

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