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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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 · season · craft · charge · bass · mine · cabinet · leaves

  1. The tickets are free of ________________.
  2. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  5. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  6. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  7. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  8. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  11. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  12. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  13. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  14. Did you ________________ the meat?
  15. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  16. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  19. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  20. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  23. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  24. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — a price
  2. mine — an explosive
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. cabinet — a cupboard
  5. bass — the instrument
  6. branch — a division
  7. branch — of a tree
  8. season — of the year
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. mine — for digging
  11. branch — of a bank
  12. craft — a handicraft
  13. craft — boats
  14. season — to add flavour
  15. mine — belonging to me
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. charge — in control
  19. bass — the fish
  20. craft — a skill
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. charge — electricity
  23. bass — low music
  24. season — in sport

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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