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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: bank · foot · temple · degree · mark · charge · bowl · lie

  1. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  2. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  5. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  6. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  7. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  8. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  9. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  10. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. When was this ________________ built?
  13. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  14. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  15. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  16. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  17. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  18. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  19. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  20. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. The tickets are free of ________________.
  23. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  24. Where can I ________________ my mobile?

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

Answer key

  1. bowl — a dish
  2. bowl — to roll
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. mark — a trace
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. bank — for money
  7. degree — temperature
  8. charge — in control
  9. bank — of a river
  10. bowl — a football final
  11. mark — a grade
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. foot — the bottom
  14. degree — from a university
  15. degree — an amount
  16. bank — for money
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. foot — a measure
  19. foot — part of the body
  20. temple — side of the head
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. charge — a price
  23. lie — to recline
  24. charge — electricity

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