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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: temple · calf · spell · leaves · charge · squash · rash · roll

  1. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  2. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  3. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  4. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  5. We're on a ________________ here.
  6. When was this ________________ built?
  7. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  8. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. Don't do anything ________________.
  12. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  13. The tickets are free of ________________.
  14. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  15. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  16. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  17. How do you ________________ your surname?
  18. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  19. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  20. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  21. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  22. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  23. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  24. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — a list
  2. rash — a series
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. rash — on the skin
  5. roll — on a roll
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. temple — side of the head
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. rash — hasty
  12. charge — electricity
  13. charge — a price
  14. calf — of the leg
  15. roll — a cake
  16. squash — to crush
  17. spell — letters
  18. squash — the vegetable
  19. leaves — of a tree
  20. charge — in control
  21. squash — the sport
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. spell — a short time
  24. spell — magic

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