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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. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  4. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  5. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  6. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  7. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  8. The tickets are free of ________________.
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  11. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  12. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  13. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  14. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  15. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  16. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  17. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  18. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  19. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. file — a document
  4. branch — of a bank
  5. branch — a division
  6. charge — in control
  7. file — a tool
  8. charge — a price
  9. charge — electricity
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. perch — the fish
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. branch — of a tree
  14. lie — to recline
  15. file — a line of people
  16. perch — for a bird
  17. toast — a drink to someone
  18. toast — the most admired
  19. toast — bread
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. perch — for a bird

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