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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  2. That was ________________ to happen.
  3. The tickets are free of ________________.
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  7. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  8. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  9. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  10. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  11. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  12. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  13. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  14. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  19. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  20. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  21. When was this ________________ built?
  22. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  24. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a face
  2. bound — certain
  3. charge — a price
  4. mug — to rob
  5. mug — a cup
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. lash — to lash out
  8. tear — from crying
  9. temple — side of the head
  10. charge — in control
  11. tear — from crying
  12. lash — an eyelash
  13. pass — a permit
  14. tear — to rip
  15. bound — tied together
  16. charge — electricity
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. lash — a whip stroke
  19. bound — obliged
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. calf — of the leg
  23. pass — to succeed
  24. temple — a place of worship

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