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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. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  3. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  4. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  7. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  8. You don't need to ________________ round.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  11. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  12. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  15. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  16. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  17. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  18. The tickets are free of ________________.
  19. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  20. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  21. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  22. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  23. We're almost out of ________________.
  24. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. wake — before a funeral
  3. prune — the fruit
  4. charge — electricity
  5. can — to be able to
  6. branch — of a tree
  7. wake — a trail
  8. pop — to visit
  9. can — a tin
  10. wake — to stop sleeping
  11. deal — an agreement
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. can — a tin
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. deal — to handle
  16. pop — music
  17. charge — in control
  18. charge — a price
  19. prune — to trim
  20. deal — a big deal
  21. branch — a division
  22. prune — to trim
  23. pop — soda
  24. hide — animal skin

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