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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: can · sharp · temple · bound · nail · charge · snap · rush

  1. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  4. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  7. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  8. It's one o'clock ________________.
  9. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  10. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. The tickets are free of ________________.
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  20. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. The ________________ went through the wall.
  23. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  24. We are ________________ to obey laws.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. charge — in control
  3. temple — side of the head
  4. charge — electricity
  5. can — a tin
  6. snap — to snap out of it
  7. sharp — clever
  8. sharp — exactly
  9. sharp — with an edge
  10. bound — tied together
  11. rush — hurry
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. can — to be able to
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. charge — a price
  17. bound — certain
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. snap — to click
  20. snap — to speak sharply
  21. can — a tin
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. nail — on a finger
  24. bound — obliged

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