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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. When was this ________________ built?
  2. The tickets are free of ________________.
  3. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  4. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  5. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  6. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  7. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  8. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  9. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  10. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  11. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  12. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  15. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  16. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  17. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  18. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  19. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  20. The ________________ went through the wall.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  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. temple — a place of worship
  2. charge — a price
  3. temple — side of the head
  4. drill — army training
  5. lean — to bend
  6. lean — thin
  7. bark — of a tree
  8. bark — a dog's sound
  9. charge — in control
  10. drill — the tool
  11. lie — to recline
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. can — to be able to
  14. drill — a practice
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. nail — on a finger
  18. bark — to shout
  19. lean — to rest against
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. can — a tin
  22. can — a tin
  23. charge — electricity
  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