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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.

Make a worksheet

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: stick · season · foot · wave · leaves · charge · staff · branch

  1. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  2. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  3. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  4. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  5. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  6. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  7. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  8. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  9. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  12. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  13. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  14. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  15. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  16. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  17. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  18. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  19. Did you ________________ the meat?
  20. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  21. The tickets are free of ________________.
  22. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  23. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  24. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.

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

Answer key

  1. season — of the year
  2. season — in sport
  3. stick — to attach or keep to
  4. stick — a piece of wood
  5. charge — electricity
  6. branch — of a bank
  7. leaves — lets stay
  8. branch — of a tree
  9. staff — a stick
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. wave — a sudden rise
  12. stick — a piece of wood
  13. staff — employees
  14. foot — part of the body
  15. leaves — to go away
  16. wave — with your hand
  17. branch — a division
  18. foot — a measure
  19. season — to add flavour
  20. wave — of the sea
  21. charge — a price
  22. staff — employees
  23. charge — in control
  24. foot — the bottom

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