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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: branch · vault · coach · bulb · current · pitcher · kid · charge

  1. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  2. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  3. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  4. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  7. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  8. The tickets are free of ________________.
  9. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  14. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  15. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  16. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  17. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  20. He is an ace ________________.
  21. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  22. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  23. Have you met the new head ________________?
  24. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — of water
  2. branch — of a bank
  3. branch — of a tree
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. current — happening now
  6. charge — in control
  7. vault — in gymnastics
  8. charge — a price
  9. vault — an arched ceiling
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. bulb — for light
  12. bulb — for light
  13. kid — to tease
  14. kid — child
  15. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  16. coach — pulled by horses
  17. charge — electricity
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. pitcher — in baseball
  21. vault — a safe
  22. branch — a division
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. current — electric

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