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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. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  2. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  3. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  4. The tickets are free of ________________.
  5. He works in a ________________ mill.
  6. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  7. She's very handy with a ________________.
  8. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  9. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  10. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  11. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  12. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  13. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  14. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  15. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  16. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  17. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  18. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  19. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  20. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  21. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  22. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  23. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  24. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. bank — for money
  3. branch — of a tree
  4. charge — a price
  5. saw — the tool
  6. club — for golf
  7. saw — the tool
  8. pit — a hole
  9. pit — in a race
  10. saw — past of 'see'
  11. hand — in cards
  12. fine — all right
  13. bank — of a river
  14. fine — a penalty
  15. club — for dancing
  16. charge — in control
  17. pit — a fruit stone
  18. branch — of a bank
  19. fine — high quality
  20. branch — a division
  21. hand — help
  22. charge — electricity
  23. hand — part of the body
  24. club — a group

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