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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 116 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. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  4. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  5. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  6. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  7. What do you think of the new ________________?
  8. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  11. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  12. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  15. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  16. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  17. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  18. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  22. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  23. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  24. The tickets are free of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — gave birth
  2. charge — in control
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. branch — of a tree
  6. trunk — of an elephant
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. trunk — of a car
  9. rock — a stone
  10. rock — to move gently
  11. charge — electricity
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. trunk — of a tree
  15. mouse — for a computer
  16. branch — of a bank
  17. cabinet — a cupboard
  18. branch — a division
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. rock — music
  21. bore — to tire
  22. leaves — of a tree
  23. bore — to drill
  24. charge — a price

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