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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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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: charge · calf · face · bear · temple · arm · band · roll

  1. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  2. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  3. When was this ________________ built?
  4. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  5. My father caught me by the ________________.
  6. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  7. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  8. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  9. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  10. The tickets are free of ________________.
  11. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  12. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  13. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  14. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  15. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  16. We're on a ________________ here.
  17. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  18. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  19. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  20. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  21. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  22. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  23. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  24. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!

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

Answer key

  1. face — to confront
  2. calf — of the leg
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. temple — side of the head
  7. roll — a list
  8. bear — the animal
  9. band — a rubber band
  10. charge — a price
  11. band — a ring
  12. face — part of the head
  13. charge — in control
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. arm — a part of something
  16. roll — on a roll
  17. face — to point toward
  18. bear — the animal
  19. band — a music group
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. roll — a cake
  23. charge — electricity
  24. bear — to put up with

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