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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  2. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  3. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  10. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  11. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  12. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  13. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  14. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  15. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  16. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  17. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  18. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  19. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  20. The tickets are free of ________________.
  21. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  22. The ________________ took off on time.
  23. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  24. Biology is a ________________ of science.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — to trim
  2. bank — for money
  3. bank — of a river
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. rush — hurry
  8. rock — music
  9. branch — of a bank
  10. plane — in geometry
  11. branch — of a tree
  12. plane — a tool
  13. charge — in control
  14. rock — a stone
  15. staff — employees
  16. prune — to trim
  17. charge — electricity
  18. bank — for money
  19. staff — a stick
  20. charge — a price
  21. staff — employees
  22. plane — an aircraft
  23. prune — the fruit
  24. branch — a division

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