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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
468
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: rash · branch · charge · jam · safe · kid · ball · cap

  1. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  3. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  4. The King held a masked ________________.
  5. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  6. Don't do anything ________________.
  7. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  8. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  9. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  10. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  11. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  12. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  13. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  16. The tickets are free of ________________.
  17. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  23. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  24. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — in traffic
  2. rash — a series
  3. ball — a round shape
  4. ball — a dance
  5. ball — a great time
  6. rash — hasty
  7. branch — of a bank
  8. cap — a hat
  9. kid — to tease
  10. cap — a lid
  11. branch — a division
  12. cap — of ice
  13. rash — on the skin
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. jam — a tight spot
  16. charge — a price
  17. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. charge — in control
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. charge — electricity
  23. kid — child
  24. branch — of a tree

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