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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: fall · prune · calf · bass · charge · fan · snap · bore

  1. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. The tickets are free of ________________.
  3. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  4. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  5. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  6. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  7. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  8. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  9. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  10. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  11. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  12. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  13. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  14. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  15. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  16. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  17. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  18. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  19. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  20. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  21. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  22. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  23. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  24. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. charge — a price
  3. fall — the season
  4. bore — to drill
  5. prune — to trim
  6. charge — electricity
  7. snap — to snap out of it
  8. snap — to speak sharply
  9. bore — to tire
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. bass — low music
  12. prune — the fruit
  13. bass — the instrument
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. fall — to drop
  16. calf — of the leg
  17. snap — to click
  18. bass — the fish
  19. prune — to trim
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. fan — to cool the air
  22. fall — to drop
  23. bore — gave birth
  24. charge — in control

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