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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. The tickets are free of ________________.
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. Have you met the new head ________________?
  5. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  6. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  7. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  8. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  9. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  10. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  11. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  12. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  13. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  14. I can't ________________ this cold.
  15. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  16. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  17. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  18. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  19. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  20. Did you ________________ the meat?
  21. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  22. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?

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

Answer key

  1. charge — a price
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. key — in music
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. branch — of a bank
  6. stand — on your feet
  7. wax — in the ear
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. dip — to dunk
  10. charge — electricity
  11. branch — of a tree
  12. key — for a lock
  13. charge — in control
  14. stand — to bear
  15. wax — to grow
  16. dip — to sink
  17. branch — a division
  18. season — in sport
  19. wax — for sculpting
  20. season — to add flavour
  21. season — of the year
  22. dip — a sauce
  23. key — the most important part
  24. coach — pulled by horses

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