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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.

Make a worksheet

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: board · wind · lash · ruler · charge · temple · mine · bulb

  1. The tickets are free of ________________.
  2. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  3. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  4. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  5. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  6. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  7. The light ________________ burned out.
  8. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  9. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  10. When was this ________________ built?
  11. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  12. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  13. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  14. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  15. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  16. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  19. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  22. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  23. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  24. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — a price
  2. wind — to turn a key
  3. board — a committee
  4. lash — an eyelash
  5. temple — side of the head
  6. lash — to lash out
  7. bulb — for light
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. wind — moving air
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. lash — a whip stroke
  12. charge — in control
  13. mine — an explosive
  14. wind — moving air
  15. board — a flat piece
  16. board — to get on
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. ruler — a monarch
  19. mine — belonging to me
  20. bulb — for light
  21. mine — for digging
  22. charge — electricity
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. temple — a place of worship

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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