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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: rash · rush · bear · last · charge · date · cue · temple

  1. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  2. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  3. Have you settled on a ________________?
  4. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  5. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  6. That must've been a ________________.
  7. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  8. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  11. Don't do anything ________________.
  12. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  13. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  14. False peace will not ________________.
  15. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  16. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  17. When was this ________________ built?
  18. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  19. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  20. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. The tickets are free of ________________.
  23. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — side of the head
  2. date — on the calendar
  3. date — on the calendar
  4. cue — a signal
  5. date — the fruit
  6. rush — a thrill
  7. bear — the animal
  8. rash — a series
  9. charge — electricity
  10. bear — the animal
  11. rash — hasty
  12. charge — in control
  13. cue — a hint
  14. last — to go on
  15. last — final
  16. last — finally
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. rash — on the skin
  20. cue — for pool
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. charge — a price
  23. bear — to put up with
  24. rush — hurry

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