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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: temple · charge · spell · rush · bound · current · jam · face

  1. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  2. That must've been a ________________.
  3. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  4. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  7. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  8. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  9. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. The tickets are free of ________________.
  12. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  13. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  16. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  17. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  18. How do you ________________ your surname?
  19. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. When was this ________________ built?
  24. We are ________________ to obey laws.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — hurry
  2. rush — a thrill
  3. face — part of the head
  4. jam — a tight spot
  5. bound — certain
  6. spell — a short time
  7. spell — magic
  8. face — to point toward
  9. jam — in traffic
  10. current — of water
  11. charge — a price
  12. charge — electricity
  13. rush — to hurry
  14. current — happening now
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. charge — in control
  17. face — to confront
  18. spell — letters
  19. bound — tied together
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. temple — side of the head
  22. current — electric
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. bound — obliged

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