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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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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 · charge · chest · stick · temple · mine · branch · bay

  1. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  2. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  3. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  4. The tickets are free of ________________.
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  7. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  11. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  12. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  13. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  14. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  17. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  18. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  19. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  20. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  21. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  22. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  23. My mare is ________________ in color.
  24. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. bay — to keep at bay
  3. chest — a box
  4. charge — a price
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. mine — for digging
  7. pass — a permit
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. charge — electricity
  10. stick — to attach or keep to
  11. temple — side of the head
  12. branch — a division
  13. stick — a piece of wood
  14. stick — a piece of wood
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. charge — in control
  17. chest — of your body
  18. bay — a part of the sea
  19. mine — an explosive
  20. mine — belonging to me
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. branch — of a tree
  23. bay — a horse colour
  24. chest — of your body

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