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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: board · face · charge · stock · bowl · bank · deal · temple

  1. When was this ________________ built?
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  4. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  5. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  6. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  7. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  8. The ________________ market has crashed.
  9. The tickets are free of ________________.
  10. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  11. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  12. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  13. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  14. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  15. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  16. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  17. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  18. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  19. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  20. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  21. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  22. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  23. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  24. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.

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 — in control
  3. bowl — a dish
  4. bank — for money
  5. bank — of a river
  6. board — a flat piece
  7. bank — for money
  8. stock — shares
  9. charge — a price
  10. face — to point toward
  11. stock — goods
  12. charge — electricity
  13. deal — a big deal
  14. deal — to handle
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. bowl — to roll
  17. bowl — a football final
  18. board — to get on
  19. deal — an agreement
  20. face — part of the head
  21. stock — a soup base
  22. face — to confront
  23. temple — side of the head
  24. board — a committee

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