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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 120 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: mug · wax · branch · charge · rash · track · drill · stem

  1. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  2. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  3. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  4. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  5. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  6. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  7. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  8. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  9. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  10. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  11. Don't do anything ________________.
  12. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  13. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  14. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  15. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  16. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  17. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  20. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  21. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  22. The tickets are free of ________________.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. Where did you ________________ them?

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. rash — on the skin
  3. charge — in control
  4. track — a path
  5. branch — a division
  6. wax — to grow
  7. drill — army training
  8. drill — the tool
  9. stem — to come from
  10. stem — a stem cell
  11. rash — hasty
  12. charge — electricity
  13. branch — of a tree
  14. rash — a series
  15. track — to keep track
  16. wax — in the ear
  17. wax — for sculpting
  18. mug — a cup
  19. stem — of a plant
  20. drill — a practice
  21. track — a song
  22. charge — a price
  23. mug — a face
  24. mug — to rob

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