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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: temple · current · charge · tear · board · season · staff · wave

  1. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  2. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  3. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  4. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  7. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  8. The tickets are free of ________________.
  9. Did you ________________ the meat?
  10. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  11. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  12. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  13. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  14. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  19. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  20. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  23. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  24. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — side of the head
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. wave — a sudden rise
  4. board — to get on
  5. current — happening now
  6. wave — of the sea
  7. tear — from crying
  8. charge — a price
  9. season — to add flavour
  10. charge — electricity
  11. season — in sport
  12. board — a committee
  13. charge — in control
  14. tear — to rip
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. board — a flat piece
  17. current — electric
  18. staff — a stick
  19. staff — employees
  20. season — of the year
  21. current — of water
  22. tear — from crying
  23. wave — with your hand
  24. staff — employees

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