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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: bore · safe · pitcher · chest · degree · arm · charge · can

  1. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  3. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  4. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  5. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  6. My father caught me by the ________________.
  7. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  8. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  9. The tickets are free of ________________.
  10. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  11. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  17. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  18. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  21. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  24. He is an ace ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. degree — from a university
  3. bore — to drill
  4. chest — of your body
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. bore — to tire
  8. arm — a part of something
  9. charge — a price
  10. chest — of your body
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. can — to be able to
  13. can — a tin
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. degree — an amount
  17. chest — a box
  18. bore — gave birth
  19. can — a tin
  20. degree — temperature
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. charge — electricity
  24. pitcher — in baseball

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