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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: bowl · charge · calf · fan · rush · spell · cue · can

  1. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  2. That must've been a ________________.
  3. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  4. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  5. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  6. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  7. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  8. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  9. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  10. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  11. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  12. How do you ________________ your surname?
  13. The tickets are free of ________________.
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  19. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  20. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  21. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  22. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a signal
  2. rush — a thrill
  3. calf — of the leg
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. spell — magic
  7. bowl — a football final
  8. cue — a hint
  9. spell — a short time
  10. cue — for pool
  11. rush — to hurry
  12. spell — letters
  13. charge — a price
  14. rush — hurry
  15. can — to be able to
  16. can — a tin
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. charge — in control
  19. bowl — to roll
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. charge — electricity
  23. can — a tin
  24. bowl — a dish

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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