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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 116 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: squash · racket · charge · kick · cue · branch · fine · saw

  1. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  2. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  3. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  4. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  5. He works in a ________________ mill.
  6. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  7. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  8. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  9. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  10. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  11. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  12. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  13. The tickets are free of ________________.
  14. She's very handy with a ________________.
  15. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  16. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  17. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  18. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  19. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  20. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  21. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  22. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  23. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  24. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a signal
  2. racket — for tennis
  3. cue — for pool
  4. kick — a thrill
  5. saw — the tool
  6. branch — of a tree
  7. charge — in control
  8. cue — a hint
  9. fine — a penalty
  10. charge — electricity
  11. fine — all right
  12. kick — in football
  13. charge — a price
  14. saw — the tool
  15. racket — a loud noise
  16. fine — high quality
  17. branch — of a bank
  18. racket — for tennis
  19. saw — past of 'see'
  20. squash — to crush
  21. squash — the sport
  22. kick — with a leg
  23. branch — a division
  24. squash — the vegetable

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