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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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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: bound · cell · rash · foot · charge · last · rush · lean

  1. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  4. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  5. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  6. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  7. That was ________________ to happen.
  8. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. Don't do anything ________________.
  13. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  14. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  15. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  16. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  17. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  18. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  19. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  20. The tickets are free of ________________.
  21. He was locked up in a ________________.
  22. False peace will not ________________.
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!

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

Answer key

  1. last — finally
  2. charge — in control
  3. lean — to rest against
  4. bound — obliged
  5. lean — to bend
  6. bound — tied together
  7. bound — certain
  8. rash — a series
  9. charge — electricity
  10. foot — the bottom
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. rash — hasty
  13. rash — on the skin
  14. last — final
  15. foot — a measure
  16. lean — thin
  17. rush — to hurry
  18. foot — part of the body
  19. cell — in biology
  20. charge — a price
  21. cell — in a prison
  22. last — to go on
  23. rush — hurry
  24. cell — a phone

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