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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: safe · charge · rash · cabinet · mine · ball · branch · bank

  1. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  2. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  3. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  4. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  5. The King held a masked ________________.
  6. The tickets are free of ________________.
  7. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  8. Don't do anything ________________.
  9. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  10. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  11. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  12. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  13. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  14. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  19. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  20. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  21. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  22. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  23. What do you think of the new ________________?
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — electricity
  2. branch — of a bank
  3. mine — belonging to me
  4. branch — of a tree
  5. ball — a dance
  6. charge — a price
  7. rash — a series
  8. rash — hasty
  9. rash — on the skin
  10. charge — in control
  11. branch — a division
  12. bank — for money
  13. ball — a round shape
  14. ball — a great time
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. bank — of a river
  19. mine — for digging
  20. mine — an explosive
  21. cabinet — a cupboard
  22. bank — for money
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. safe — a strongbox

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