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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. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  3. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  4. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  5. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  6. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  7. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  8. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  9. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  10. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  11. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  12. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  13. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  14. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  17. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  18. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  19. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  20. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  21. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  22. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  23. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  24. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. wax — for sculpting
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. charge — electricity
  6. bark — of a tree
  7. patient — calm and waiting
  8. branch — a division
  9. staff — employees
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. branch — of a tree
  12. bark — a dog's sound
  13. bank — for money
  14. wax — to grow
  15. charge — a price
  16. staff — employees
  17. staff — a stick
  18. patient — a sick person
  19. bank — of a river
  20. wax — in the ear
  21. bark — to shout
  22. branch — of a bank
  23. bank — for money
  24. lie — to recline

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