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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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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: calf · rule · sharp · band · current · temple · rash · charge

  1. Don't do anything ________________.
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  4. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  5. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  6. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  7. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  8. It's one o'clock ________________.
  9. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  10. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  11. The tickets are free of ________________.
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  14. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  17. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  18. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  19. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. When was this ________________ built?
  22. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  23. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  24. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — hasty
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. charge — in control
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. sharp — with an edge
  6. rule — government
  7. band — a rubber band
  8. sharp — exactly
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. sharp — clever
  11. charge — a price
  12. current — of water
  13. band — a ring
  14. band — a music group
  15. current — electric
  16. calf — of the leg
  17. rash — on the skin
  18. rash — a series
  19. rule — a law
  20. current — happening now
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. charge — electricity
  23. rule — to rule out
  24. temple — side of the head

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