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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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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: bear · branch · leaves · staff · roll · lean · charge · toast

  1. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  3. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  4. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  5. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. The tickets are free of ________________.
  8. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  9. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  10. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  13. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  14. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  15. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  16. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  17. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  18. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  19. We're on a ________________ here.
  20. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  21. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  22. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  23. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  24. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. bear — to put up with
  3. staff — employees
  4. branch — of a tree
  5. bear — the animal
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. charge — a price
  8. toast — bread
  9. branch — a division
  10. staff — employees
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. bear — the animal
  13. charge — in control
  14. toast — the most admired
  15. branch — of a bank
  16. charge — electricity
  17. staff — a stick
  18. lean — to bend
  19. roll — on a roll
  20. toast — a drink to someone
  21. roll — a list
  22. lean — to rest against
  23. lean — thin
  24. roll — a cake

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