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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 120 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. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  2. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  3. The tickets are free of ________________.
  4. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  5. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  6. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  7. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  8. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  9. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  10. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  11. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  12. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  13. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  14. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  15. The ________________ went through the wall.
  16. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  17. Where did you ________________ them?
  18. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  19. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  20. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  21. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. I'd like to play a game of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. fan — to cool the air
  3. charge — a price
  4. branch — a division
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. charge — electricity
  8. root — of a plant
  9. pitch — a sports field
  10. squash — to crush
  11. squash — the vegetable
  12. mug — a cup
  13. pitch — completely
  14. charge — in control
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. pitch — a sales talk
  17. mug — to rob
  18. branch — of a bank
  19. nail — on a finger
  20. root — the cause
  21. root — of a word
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. mug — a face
  24. squash — the sport

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