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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
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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: bay · charge · lean · bear · net · sharp · mug · temple

  1. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  2. When was this ________________ built?
  3. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  4. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  5. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  6. The tickets are free of ________________.
  7. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  8. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  9. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  10. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  11. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  12. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  13. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  14. Where did you ________________ them?
  15. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  16. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  17. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  18. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  19. It's one o'clock ________________.
  20. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  21. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. My mare is ________________ in color.
  24. A black ________________ roamed the forest.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — clever
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. bear — the animal
  4. sharp — with an edge
  5. net — after costs
  6. charge — a price
  7. lean — to rest against
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. charge — in control
  10. mug — a face
  11. lean — thin
  12. bear — to put up with
  13. bay — a part of the sea
  14. mug — to rob
  15. charge — electricity
  16. temple — side of the head
  17. net — in sport
  18. lean — to bend
  19. sharp — exactly
  20. net — for catching
  21. bay — to keep at bay
  22. mug — a cup
  23. bay — a horse colour
  24. bear — the animal

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