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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: bore · roll · temple · object · rash · charge · toast · pass

  1. The tickets are free of ________________.
  2. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  3. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  4. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  5. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  6. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  7. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  8. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  9. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  10. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  11. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  12. When was this ________________ built?
  13. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  14. Don't do anything ________________.
  15. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  16. We're on a ________________ here.
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  19. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  20. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  21. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  22. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  23. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  24. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — a price
  2. bore — gave birth
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. toast — a drink to someone
  5. toast — the most admired
  6. roll — a list
  7. pass — a permit
  8. bore — to drill
  9. rash — on the skin
  10. pass — to spend time
  11. charge — electricity
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. temple — side of the head
  14. rash — hasty
  15. rash — a series
  16. roll — on a roll
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. object — an aim
  19. bore — to tire
  20. object — a thing
  21. roll — a cake
  22. object — to protest
  23. charge — in control
  24. toast — bread

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