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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: prune · temple · lie · object · suit · cap · arm · charge

  1. My father caught me by the ________________.
  2. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  3. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  4. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  5. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  6. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  9. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  10. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  13. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  14. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  15. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  16. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  17. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  18. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  19. When was this ________________ built?
  20. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  21. The tickets are free of ________________.
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  24. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — part of the body
  2. cap — of ice
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. prune — to trim
  6. cap — a hat
  7. suit — in cards
  8. cap — a lid
  9. object — a thing
  10. arm — a part of something
  11. suit — to fit
  12. prune — the fruit
  13. lie — to recline
  14. prune — to trim
  15. charge — in control
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. object — to protest
  18. charge — electricity
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. charge — a price
  22. suit — clothes
  23. temple — side of the head
  24. object — an aim

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