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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: charge · craft · sharp · scale · bay · calf · deal · branch

  1. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  3. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  4. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  5. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  6. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  7. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  8. My mare is ________________ in color.
  9. It's one o'clock ________________.
  10. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  11. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  12. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  13. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  14. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  15. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  16. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  17. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  18. The tickets are free of ________________.
  19. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  20. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  21. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  22. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  23. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  24. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. sharp — clever
  3. scale — size or range
  4. deal — to handle
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. charge — electricity
  8. bay — a horse colour
  9. sharp — exactly
  10. scale — for weighing
  11. branch — of a tree
  12. deal — a big deal
  13. sharp — with an edge
  14. craft — a skill
  15. branch — of a bank
  16. craft — boats
  17. craft — a handicraft
  18. charge — a price
  19. branch — a division
  20. scale — in music
  21. calf — of the leg
  22. deal — an agreement
  23. bay — to keep at bay
  24. bay — a part of the sea

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