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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: charge · band · leaves · prune · bound · lie · temple · season

  1. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  3. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  4. That was ________________ to happen.
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  7. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  8. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  9. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  10. Did you ________________ the meat?
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  13. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  14. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  15. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  16. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  17. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  18. The tickets are free of ________________.
  19. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  20. When was this ________________ built?
  21. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  22. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  23. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  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 — in control
  2. temple — side of the head
  3. prune — to trim
  4. bound — certain
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. prune — the fruit
  7. band — a music group
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. prune — to trim
  10. season — to add flavour
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. bound — obliged
  13. lie — to recline
  14. charge — electricity
  15. season — of the year
  16. season — in sport
  17. band — a rubber band
  18. charge — a price
  19. band — a ring
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. leaves — lets stay
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. bound — tied together
  24. temple — a place of worship

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