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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 120 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
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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: charge · lash · wave · root · branch · mine · season · bank

  1. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  2. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  3. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  4. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  5. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  6. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  7. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  8. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  9. Did you ________________ the meat?
  10. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  11. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  12. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  13. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  14. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  15. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  16. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  17. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  18. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  19. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  20. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  21. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  22. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  23. The tickets are free of ________________.
  24. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. mine — belonging to me
  3. root — of a word
  4. wave — a sudden rise
  5. charge — in control
  6. charge — electricity
  7. lash — a whip stroke
  8. branch — of a tree
  9. season — to add flavour
  10. wave — with your hand
  11. lash — to lash out
  12. mine — an explosive
  13. bank — for money
  14. season — of the year
  15. root — of a plant
  16. bank — of a river
  17. mine — for digging
  18. wave — of the sea
  19. bank — for money
  20. root — the cause
  21. branch — a division
  22. season — in sport
  23. charge — a price
  24. branch — of a bank

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