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

Word bank: lash · toast · rest · last · charge · chair · ruler · temple

  1. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  2. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. The tickets are free of ________________.
  5. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  6. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  7. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  8. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  9. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  10. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  11. When was this ________________ built?
  12. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  13. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  14. False peace will not ________________.
  15. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  16. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  17. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  18. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  19. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  20. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  21. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  22. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  23. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  24. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. ruler — a monarch
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. charge — a price
  5. temple — side of the head
  6. lash — a whip stroke
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. toast — bread
  9. lash — to lash out
  10. toast — a drink to someone
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. rest — a break
  13. chair — a leader
  14. last — to go on
  15. rest — what's left
  16. last — finally
  17. toast — the most admired
  18. charge — in control
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. last — final
  22. chair — a professorship
  23. charge — electricity
  24. chair — to sit on

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