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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
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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: bay · race · patient · ball · charge · branch · suit · leaves

  1. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. When will it ________________ you to start?
  3. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  4. My mare is ________________ in color.
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  7. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  8. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  9. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  10. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  11. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  12. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  13. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  14. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  17. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  20. The tickets are free of ________________.
  21. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  22. The King held a masked ________________.
  23. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  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. leaves — lets stay
  2. suit — to fit
  3. charge — electricity
  4. bay — a horse colour
  5. suit — clothes
  6. bay — to keep at bay
  7. ball — a great time
  8. bay — a part of the sea
  9. race — a contest
  10. race — humankind
  11. patient — a sick person
  12. charge — in control
  13. race — the arms race
  14. branch — of a tree
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. ball — a round shape
  17. suit — in cards
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. patient — calm and waiting
  20. charge — a price
  21. branch — a division
  22. ball — a dance
  23. patient — a sick person
  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