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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: bore · can · rest · pitcher · key · charge · squash · bank

  1. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  2. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  3. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  4. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  5. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  6. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  7. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  8. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  9. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  10. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  11. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  12. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  16. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  19. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  20. The tickets are free of ________________.
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.

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

Answer key

  1. squash — the vegetable
  2. squash — to crush
  3. squash — the sport
  4. bore — to tire
  5. key — the most important part
  6. bank — of a river
  7. rest — a break
  8. bank — for money
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. bore — gave birth
  11. bank — for money
  12. bore — to drill
  13. can — a tin
  14. key — in music
  15. rest — what's left
  16. charge — in control
  17. can — to be able to
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. key — for a lock
  20. charge — a price
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. charge — electricity
  23. can — a tin
  24. rest — what's left

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