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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: trunk · fine · temple · charge · pitcher · object · lie · patient

  1. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  3. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  4. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  5. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  6. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  7. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  8. He is an ace ________________.
  9. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  12. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  13. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  14. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  15. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  16. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  17. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  18. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  19. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  20. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  21. The tickets are free of ________________.
  22. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  23. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  24. When was this ________________ built?

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. patient — calm and waiting
  3. charge — in control
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. patient — a sick person
  6. fine — high quality
  7. patient — a sick person
  8. pitcher — in baseball
  9. object — to protest
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. object — a thing
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. fine — a penalty
  14. trunk — of an elephant
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. trunk — of a car
  17. temple — side of the head
  18. object — an aim
  19. fine — all right
  20. lie — to recline
  21. charge — a price
  22. charge — electricity
  23. trunk — of a tree
  24. temple — a place of worship

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