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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: mate · branch · squash · wave · mark · fine · charge · deal

  1. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  4. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  5. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  6. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  7. The tickets are free of ________________.
  8. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  9. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  10. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. Have you found your soul ________________?
  13. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  14. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  15. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  16. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  17. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  18. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  19. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  20. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  21. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  22. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  23. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  24. I'd like to play a game of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — of the sea
  2. mark — a trace
  3. mark — a grade
  4. deal — an agreement
  5. fine — all right
  6. fine — high quality
  7. charge — a price
  8. squash — the vegetable
  9. deal — to handle
  10. mate — a friend
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. mate — a partner
  13. charge — in control
  14. branch — of a bank
  15. branch — of a tree
  16. wave — with your hand
  17. deal — a big deal
  18. charge — electricity
  19. wave — a sudden rise
  20. mate — to breed
  21. branch — a division
  22. fine — a penalty
  23. squash — to crush
  24. squash — the sport

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