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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: pass · suit · rash · scale · branch · face · bay · charge

  1. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  2. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  3. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  4. When will it ________________ you to start?
  5. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  6. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  7. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  8. Don't do anything ________________.
  9. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  10. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  11. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  12. The tickets are free of ________________.
  13. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  14. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  17. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  18. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  19. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  20. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  21. My mare is ________________ in color.
  22. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  23. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  24. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — electricity
  2. suit — in cards
  3. branch — a division
  4. suit — to fit
  5. scale — in music
  6. branch — of a bank
  7. pass — to succeed
  8. rash — hasty
  9. suit — clothes
  10. branch — of a tree
  11. charge — in control
  12. charge — a price
  13. face — to confront
  14. bay — a part of the sea
  15. pass — a permit
  16. face — part of the head
  17. rash — a series
  18. scale — size or range
  19. face — to point toward
  20. scale — for weighing
  21. bay — a horse colour
  22. pass — to spend time
  23. rash — on the skin
  24. bay — to keep at bay

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