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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.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: net · scale · fan · charge · branch · fine

  1. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  3. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  4. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  5. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  6. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  7. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  8. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  9. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  10. The tickets are free of ________________.
  11. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  12. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  13. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  14. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  15. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  16. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  17. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  18. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. scale — for weighing
  3. fine — all right
  4. net — in sport
  5. branch — of a tree
  6. branch — of a bank
  7. fine — a penalty
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. scale — in music
  10. charge — a price
  11. branch — a division
  12. fan — to cool the air
  13. scale — size or range
  14. net — after costs
  15. charge — electricity
  16. fine — high quality
  17. net — for catching
  18. fan — a supporter

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