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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: degree · charge · lash · clip · last · lie · safe · patient

  1. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  3. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  4. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  7. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  8. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  9. The tickets are free of ________________.
  10. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  11. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  12. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  13. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  14. False peace will not ________________.
  15. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  16. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  20. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  21. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  22. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  23. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  24. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. clip — a video
  3. lie — to recline
  4. last — final
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. patient — calm and waiting
  7. lash — an eyelash
  8. degree — an amount
  9. charge — a price
  10. patient — a sick person
  11. degree — temperature
  12. clip — for paper
  13. degree — from a university
  14. last — to go on
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. lash — a whip stroke
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. lash — to lash out
  20. patient — a sick person
  21. last — finally
  22. charge — electricity
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. clip — to cut

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