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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: lash · bark · temple · rush · straw · charge · lie · nail

  1. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  2. The tickets are free of ________________.
  3. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  4. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  5. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  8. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  9. When was this ________________ built?
  10. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  13. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  14. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  15. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  16. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  17. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  18. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  19. The ________________ went through the wall.
  20. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  21. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  24. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. charge — a price
  3. straw — dry grass
  4. lash — an eyelash
  5. lash — a whip stroke
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. charge — in control
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. charge — electricity
  11. rush — hurry
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. bark — a dog's sound
  14. bark — to shout
  15. straw — to clutch at straws
  16. lie — to recline
  17. nail — on a finger
  18. lash — to lash out
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. straw — a straw man
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. temple — side of the head
  24. bark — of a tree

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