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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 116 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. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  6. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  7. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  8. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  9. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  10. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  11. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  12. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  15. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  16. The King held a masked ________________.
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  19. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  20. The tickets are free of ________________.
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  23. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  24. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. charge — electricity
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. bowl — a dish
  6. tear — from crying
  7. tear — to rip
  8. ball — a round shape
  9. ball — a great time
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. branch — of a bank
  12. mouse — for a computer
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. branch — a division
  15. pass — to spend time
  16. ball — a dance
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. tear — from crying
  19. bowl — a football final
  20. charge — a price
  21. pass — a permit
  22. bowl — to roll
  23. charge — in control
  24. mouse — the animal

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