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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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Word bank
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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. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  4. The tickets are free of ________________.
  5. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  8. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  11. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  12. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  13. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  14. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  15. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  16. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  17. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  18. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  19. This piece is in a major ________________.
  20. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  21. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  22. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  23. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  24. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. can — a tin
  3. key — for a lock
  4. charge — a price
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. can — to be able to
  7. staff — employees
  8. wound — past of 'wind'
  9. can — a tin
  10. bear — the animal
  11. key — the most important part
  12. staff — a stick
  13. racket — for tennis
  14. bear — the animal
  15. racket — a loud noise
  16. bear — to put up with
  17. branch — a division
  18. staff — employees
  19. key — in music
  20. wound — an injury
  21. charge — electricity
  22. branch — of a bank
  23. charge — in control
  24. wound — an injury

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