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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 · pitch · leaves · snap · can · mark · charge · sharp

  1. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  4. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. It's one o'clock ________________.
  9. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  10. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  11. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  12. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  13. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  14. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  15. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  16. The tickets are free of ________________.
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  19. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  24. Where can I ________________ my mobile?

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. sharp — with an edge
  4. pitch — a sales talk
  5. can — a tin
  6. mark — a trace
  7. can — a tin
  8. sharp — exactly
  9. branch — a division
  10. snap — to click
  11. pitch — completely
  12. branch — of a bank
  13. sharp — clever
  14. snap — to snap out of it
  15. snap — to speak sharply
  16. charge — a price
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. charge — in control
  19. pitch — a sports field
  20. can — to be able to
  21. mark — a grade
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. branch — of a tree
  24. charge — electricity

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