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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 ________________ went through the wall.
  2. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  3. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  4. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  5. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  6. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  7. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  8. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  9. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  10. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  11. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. The tickets are free of ________________.
  17. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  18. The ________________ market has crashed.
  19. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  22. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  24. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. charge — electricity
  3. charge — in control
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. rest — a break
  6. stock — a soup base
  7. cabinet — a cupboard
  8. stock — goods
  9. foot — part of the body
  10. branch — a division
  11. branch — of a tree
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. rest — what's left
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. charge — a price
  17. rest — what's left
  18. stock — shares
  19. foot — the bottom
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. branch — of a bank
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. foot — a measure
  24. nail — on a finger

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