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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 · scale · game · leaves · charge · root · branch · press

  1. That was a fun ________________.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. Did you ________________ the button?
  5. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  6. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  7. The tickets are free of ________________.
  8. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  9. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  10. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  11. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  14. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  15. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  16. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  19. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  20. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  21. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  22. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  23. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. game — a match
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. press — to push
  5. charge — in control
  6. root — of a plant
  7. charge — a price
  8. game — wild animals
  9. scale — in music
  10. charge — electricity
  11. scale — for weighing
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. press — newspapers
  14. leaves — to go away
  15. press — a publisher
  16. game — a kind of play
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. scale — size or range
  19. branch — a division
  20. branch — of a tree
  21. root — of a word
  22. branch — of a bank
  23. root — the cause
  24. safe — a strongbox

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