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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 120 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
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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: bore · content · hand · lean · root · pitcher · mug · charge

  1. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  2. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  3. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  4. He is an ace ________________.
  5. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  6. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  7. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  8. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  9. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  10. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  13. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  14. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  15. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  16. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  17. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  18. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  19. The tickets are free of ________________.
  20. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  23. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  24. Do you need a ________________ with that?

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a plant
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. mug — a face
  4. pitcher — in baseball
  5. charge — in control
  6. hand — part of the body
  7. root — the cause
  8. bore — gave birth
  9. content — the amount
  10. lean — to bend
  11. mug — a cup
  12. root — of a word
  13. hand — in cards
  14. charge — electricity
  15. content — happy
  16. bore — to drill
  17. lean — thin
  18. lean — to rest against
  19. charge — a price
  20. content — videos and posts
  21. mug — to rob
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. bore — to tire
  24. hand — help

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