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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
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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: race · mark · cabinet · temple · bound · charge · band · leaves

  1. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  2. When was this ________________ built?
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  5. The tickets are free of ________________.
  6. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  7. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  8. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  9. What do you think of the new ________________?
  10. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  13. That was ________________ to happen.
  14. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  15. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  16. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  17. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  18. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  19. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  20. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  21. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  22. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  23. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  24. Where can I ________________ my mobile?

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

Answer key

  1. mark — to pay attention
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. bound — obliged
  4. bound — tied together
  5. charge — a price
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. leaves — lets stay
  8. mark — a trace
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. band — a rubber band
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. mark — a grade
  13. bound — certain
  14. cabinet — a cupboard
  15. band — a music group
  16. leaves — of a tree
  17. race — a contest
  18. race — humankind
  19. charge — in control
  20. temple — side of the head
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. race — the arms race
  23. band — a ring
  24. charge — electricity

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