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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.

Make a worksheet

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: rule · clip · bowl · staff · jam · ball · temple · charge

  1. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. When was this ________________ built?
  3. The tickets are free of ________________.
  4. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  5. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  6. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  7. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  8. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  9. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  10. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  11. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  12. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  13. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  14. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  15. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  16. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  17. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  18. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  19. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  20. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  21. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  22. The King held a masked ________________.
  23. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  24. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. charge — a price
  4. ball — a great time
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. rule — to rule out
  7. jam — to spread on bread
  8. bowl — a dish
  9. clip — for paper
  10. clip — a video
  11. staff — employees
  12. bowl — a football final
  13. rule — government
  14. staff — a stick
  15. temple — side of the head
  16. ball — a round shape
  17. jam — a tight spot
  18. rule — a law
  19. charge — electricity
  20. clip — to cut
  21. staff — employees
  22. ball — a dance
  23. jam — in traffic
  24. bowl — to roll

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