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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. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. My mare is ________________ in color.
  4. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. She's very handy with a ________________.
  7. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  8. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. The tickets are free of ________________.
  13. He works in a ________________ mill.
  14. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  15. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  16. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  21. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  22. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  23. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  24. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. charge — in control
  3. bay — a horse colour
  4. branch — of a bank
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. saw — the tool
  7. fan — to cool the air
  8. bay — a part of the sea
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. charge — a price
  13. saw — the tool
  14. leaves — to go away
  15. bass — the instrument
  16. charge — electricity
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. bay — to keep at bay
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. bass — the fish
  21. bass — low music
  22. branch — a division
  23. saw — past of 'see'
  24. fan — a supporter

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