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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: content · can · bore · lash · board · shower · charge · cue

  1. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  2. The tickets are free of ________________.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  7. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  8. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  9. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  10. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  11. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  12. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  13. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  14. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  17. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  18. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  19. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  20. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  21. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  22. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  23. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  24. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. charge — a price
  3. can — to be able to
  4. board — a committee
  5. can — a tin
  6. content — the amount
  7. bore — to drill
  8. charge — in control
  9. lash — to lash out
  10. cue — a signal
  11. shower — rain
  12. board — to get on
  13. board — a flat piece
  14. shower — to wash
  15. can — a tin
  16. cue — for pool
  17. bore — to tire
  18. lash — a whip stroke
  19. content — videos and posts
  20. cue — a hint
  21. bore — gave birth
  22. charge — electricity
  23. shower — a meteor shower
  24. content — happy

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