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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: charge · face · wake · branch · staff · season · racket · deal

  1. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  2. The tickets are free of ________________.
  3. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  4. Did you ________________ the meat?
  5. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  6. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  7. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  8. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  9. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  10. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  11. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  12. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  13. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  14. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  15. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  16. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  17. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  18. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  19. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  20. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  21. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  22. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  23. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  24. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.

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

Answer key

  1. face — part of the head
  2. charge — a price
  3. charge — in control
  4. season — to add flavour
  5. branch — of a bank
  6. deal — to handle
  7. face — to confront
  8. wake — before a funeral
  9. deal — a big deal
  10. staff — employees
  11. deal — an agreement
  12. season — of the year
  13. season — in sport
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. branch — a division
  16. face — to point toward
  17. staff — a stick
  18. wake — a trail
  19. charge — electricity
  20. wake — to stop sleeping
  21. racket — a loud noise
  22. racket — for tennis
  23. branch — of a tree
  24. staff — employees

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