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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.

Make a worksheet

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: bowl · spring · drill · can · spell · current · date · charge

  1. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  2. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  3. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  6. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  7. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  13. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. How do you ________________ your surname?
  16. Have you settled on a ________________?
  17. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  18. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  19. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  20. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  21. The tickets are free of ________________.
  22. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — a short time
  2. bowl — to roll
  3. drill — the tool
  4. can — a tin
  5. charge — in control
  6. drill — a practice
  7. bowl — a football final
  8. current — electric
  9. current — happening now
  10. spring — the season
  11. current — of water
  12. charge — electricity
  13. spring — of water
  14. can — a tin
  15. spell — letters
  16. date — on the calendar
  17. bowl — a dish
  18. spell — magic
  19. date — on the calendar
  20. date — the fruit
  21. charge — a price
  22. spring — a coil
  23. can — to be able to
  24. drill — army training

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