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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. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  7. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  10. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  13. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  14. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  15. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  16. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. The tickets are free of ________________.
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  21. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  22. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. Let us try to swim against the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. charge — in control
  3. drill — army training
  4. current — happening now
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. branch — a division
  7. branch — of a bank
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. branch — of a tree
  10. calf — of the leg
  11. can — a tin
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. trunk — of a tree
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. drill — the tool
  16. drill — a practice
  17. current — electric
  18. charge — a price
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. charge — electricity
  21. trunk — of an elephant
  22. trunk — of a car
  23. can — to be able to
  24. current — of water

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