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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 · content · vault · jam · bore · dip · charge · drill

  1. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  2. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  3. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  4. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  5. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  6. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  7. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  8. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  9. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  10. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  11. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  12. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  13. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  14. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  15. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  16. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  17. The tickets are free of ________________.
  18. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  19. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  20. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  21. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  22. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  23. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  24. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. dip — to sink
  3. dip — to dunk
  4. charge — in control
  5. jam — in traffic
  6. bowl — a football final
  7. drill — army training
  8. jam — to spread on bread
  9. bore — gave birth
  10. bowl — a dish
  11. drill — the tool
  12. content — the amount
  13. dip — a sauce
  14. content — happy
  15. drill — a practice
  16. content — videos and posts
  17. charge — a price
  18. vault — a safe
  19. jam — a tight spot
  20. charge — electricity
  21. bore — to tire
  22. vault — an arched ceiling
  23. vault — in gymnastics
  24. bowl — to roll

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