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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
468
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: lean · season · charge · temple · capital · pitcher · lie · bay

  1. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  2. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  5. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  6. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  7. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  8. He is an ace ________________.
  9. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  10. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  11. Did you ________________ the meat?
  12. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  13. When was this ________________ built?
  14. The tickets are free of ________________.
  15. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  16. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  17. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  18. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  19. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  20. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  21. My mare is ________________ in color.
  22. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  23. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  24. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — a jug
  2. lean — to bend
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. capital — a city
  5. charge — in control
  6. lean — to rest against
  7. lie — to recline
  8. pitcher — in baseball
  9. season — of the year
  10. charge — electricity
  11. season — to add flavour
  12. season — in sport
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. charge — a price
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. bay — a part of the sea
  17. capital — a big letter
  18. bay — to keep at bay
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. capital — money
  21. bay — a horse colour
  22. lean — thin
  23. temple — side of the head
  24. lie — an untruth

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