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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 120 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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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: leaves · temple · bay · board · tear · fork · safe · charge

  1. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  4. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  5. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  6. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  7. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  8. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  9. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  12. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  13. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  14. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  17. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  18. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  19. My mare is ________________ in color.
  20. When was this ________________ built?
  21. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  22. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. The tickets are free of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. charge — electricity
  4. tear — to rip
  5. temple — side of the head
  6. fork — to eat with
  7. tear — from crying
  8. board — to get on
  9. charge — in control
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. board — a committee
  12. fork — a garden tool
  13. board — a flat piece
  14. bay — a part of the sea
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. fork — in a road
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. leaves — lets stay
  19. bay — a horse colour
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. tear — from crying
  22. bay — to keep at bay
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. charge — a price

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