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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: safe · mug · swing · branch · fine · shower · charge · season

  1. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  2. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  4. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  5. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  6. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  9. David sat on the ________________.
  10. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  11. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  14. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  17. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  18. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. Did you ________________ the meat?
  21. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. branch — of a tree
  4. shower — to wash
  5. season — of the year
  6. fine — high quality
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. fine — all right
  9. swing — to play on
  10. swing — music
  11. shower — a meteor shower
  12. mug — to rob
  13. charge — in control
  14. mug — a cup
  15. charge — a price
  16. branch — a division
  17. swing — in golf
  18. shower — rain
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. season — to add flavour
  21. charge — electricity
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. mug — a face
  24. season — in sport

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