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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.

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: safe · pitch · charge · swing · leaves · spring · root · branch

  1. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  2. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  3. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. David sat on the ________________.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  9. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  10. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  13. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  14. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  17. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  18. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  19. The tickets are free of ________________.
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  22. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  23. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  24. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — a sales talk
  2. branch — of a bank
  3. spring — a coil
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. swing — to play on
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. charge — electricity
  9. root — the cause
  10. pitch — a sports field
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. branch — a division
  13. charge — in control
  14. pitch — completely
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. branch — of a tree
  17. root — of a plant
  18. swing — music
  19. charge — a price
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. root — of a word
  22. spring — the season
  23. spring — of water
  24. swing — in golf

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