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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: charge · stock · rash · bowl · coach · mine · bore · mug

  1. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  2. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  3. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  4. Don't do anything ________________.
  5. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  6. Where did you ________________ them?
  7. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  8. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  11. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  12. The ________________ market has crashed.
  13. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  14. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  15. Have you met the new head ________________?
  16. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  17. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  18. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  19. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  20. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  21. The tickets are free of ________________.
  22. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  23. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  24. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. bowl — a dish
  3. rash — a series
  4. rash — hasty
  5. mine — an explosive
  6. mug — to rob
  7. bore — to tire
  8. bowl — to roll
  9. mug — a cup
  10. coach — pulled by horses
  11. rash — on the skin
  12. stock — shares
  13. mine — belonging to me
  14. bowl — a football final
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. stock — goods
  17. charge — electricity
  18. bore — gave birth
  19. mug — a face
  20. stock — a soup base
  21. charge — a price
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. mine — for digging
  24. charge — in control

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