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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: content · bass · pound · calf · perch · bore · stand · charge

  1. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  2. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  3. I can't ________________ this cold.
  4. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  5. The tickets are free of ________________.
  6. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  7. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  8. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  9. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  10. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  11. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  12. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  13. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  14. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  15. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  16. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  17. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  18. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  19. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  20. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  21. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  22. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  23. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  24. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.

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

Answer key

  1. pound — a weight
  2. content — the amount
  3. stand — to bear
  4. perch — the fish
  5. charge — a price
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. bass — the fish
  8. charge — electricity
  9. bore — to tire
  10. stand — for spectators
  11. bore — to drill
  12. content — videos and posts
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. bass — the instrument
  15. bore — gave birth
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. pound — to hit hard
  19. charge — in control
  20. content — happy
  21. stand — on your feet
  22. calf — of the leg
  23. pound — for dogs
  24. bass — low music

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