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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. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  4. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  5. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  6. False peace will not ________________.
  7. My mare is ________________ in color.
  8. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  9. The tickets are free of ________________.
  10. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  11. I can't ________________ this cold.
  12. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  13. We're on a ________________ here.
  14. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  15. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  16. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  17. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  18. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  19. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  20. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  21. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  22. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  23. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  24. Where can I ________________ my mobile?

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

Answer key

  1. last — final
  2. charge — in control
  3. roll — a cake
  4. branch — of a tree
  5. bear — the animal
  6. last — to go on
  7. bay — a horse colour
  8. hide — animal skin
  9. charge — a price
  10. bear — the animal
  11. stand — to bear
  12. stand — on your feet
  13. roll — on a roll
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. branch — a division
  16. roll — a list
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. branch — of a bank
  19. bay — to keep at bay
  20. bay — a part of the sea
  21. bear — to put up with
  22. stand — for spectators
  23. last — finally
  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