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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. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  5. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  6. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  7. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  8. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  9. The tickets are free of ________________.
  10. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  11. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  12. The King held a masked ________________.
  13. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  14. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  15. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  19. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  23. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  24. Where can I ________________ my mobile?

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. branch — of a bank
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. lash — an eyelash
  5. charge — in control
  6. branch — a division
  7. ball — a round shape
  8. lash — a whip stroke
  9. charge — a price
  10. lash — to lash out
  11. branch — of a tree
  12. ball — a dance
  13. wake — before a funeral
  14. wake — a trail
  15. ball — a great time
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. current — of water
  18. current — happening now
  19. wake — to stop sleeping
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. leaves — of a tree
  23. current — electric
  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