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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: season · toast · branch · pitcher · charge · staff · straw · ball

  1. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  2. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  3. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  4. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  5. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  6. The tickets are free of ________________.
  7. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  8. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  9. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  10. Did you ________________ the meat?
  11. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  12. The King held a masked ________________.
  13. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  14. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  15. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  16. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  17. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  18. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  19. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  20. He is an ace ________________.
  21. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  22. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  23. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  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. straw — to clutch at straws
  2. branch — of a bank
  3. season — of the year
  4. straw — dry grass
  5. branch — of a tree
  6. charge — a price
  7. toast — the most admired
  8. ball — a great time
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. season — to add flavour
  11. charge — in control
  12. ball — a dance
  13. ball — a round shape
  14. charge — electricity
  15. toast — a drink to someone
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. season — in sport
  18. branch — a division
  19. staff — employees
  20. pitcher — in baseball
  21. straw — a straw man
  22. staff — a stick
  23. toast — bread
  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