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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: mouse · drill · kick · shower · chip · mug · toast · charge

  1. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  2. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  3. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  6. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  7. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  8. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  9. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  10. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  11. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  12. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  13. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  14. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  15. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  16. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  19. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  20. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  21. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. The tickets are free of ________________.
  24. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.

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

Answer key

  1. shower — a meteor shower
  2. kick — in football
  3. chip — for betting
  4. mug — to rob
  5. chip — to eat
  6. toast — a drink to someone
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. charge — electricity
  9. mouse — for a computer
  10. chip — in a computer
  11. charge — in control
  12. kick — a thrill
  13. toast — bread
  14. drill — army training
  15. shower — rain
  16. drill — the tool
  17. mug — a cup
  18. toast — the most admired
  19. shower — to wash
  20. drill — a practice
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. mug — a face
  23. charge — a price
  24. kick — with a leg

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