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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. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  2. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  3. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  4. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  5. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  6. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  9. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  10. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  11. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. The tickets are free of ________________.
  14. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  15. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  16. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  17. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  18. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  19. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  20. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  21. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  22. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  23. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. craft — a handicraft
  3. craft — boats
  4. face — to confront
  5. branch — a division
  6. scale — in music
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. face — part of the head
  9. scale — size or range
  10. charge — electricity
  11. face — to point toward
  12. suit — to fit
  13. charge — a price
  14. suit — clothes
  15. pass — to spend time
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. scale — for weighing
  18. branch — of a tree
  19. pass — a permit
  20. charge — in control
  21. suit — in cards
  22. craft — a skill
  23. fan — to cool the air
  24. pass — to succeed

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