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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 · lash · toast · leaves · mark · charge · temple · row

  1. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  3. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  4. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  11. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  12. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  13. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  16. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  17. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  18. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  19. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  20. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  21. When was this ________________ built?
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. The tickets are free of ________________.
  24. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. charge — electricity
  3. temple — side of the head
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. mark — a grade
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. lash — an eyelash
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. prune — to trim
  11. toast — the most admired
  12. prune — the fruit
  13. row — to paddle
  14. toast — bread
  15. row — a quarrel
  16. prune — to trim
  17. charge — in control
  18. row — a line
  19. toast — a drink to someone
  20. lash — to lash out
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. charge — a price
  24. lash — a whip stroke

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