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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 120 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.

Make a worksheet

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: chair · charge · cue · branch · mine · deal · root · pitcher

  1. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  2. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  3. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  4. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  5. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  6. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  7. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  8. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  9. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  10. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  11. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  12. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  13. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  14. He is an ace ________________.
  15. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  16. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  17. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  18. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  19. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  20. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  21. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  22. The tickets are free of ________________.
  23. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  24. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. mine — belonging to me
  3. cue — for pool
  4. chair — to sit on
  5. deal — an agreement
  6. cue — a signal
  7. root — of a word
  8. root — of a plant
  9. root — the cause
  10. mine — for digging
  11. charge — in control
  12. chair — a professorship
  13. mine — an explosive
  14. pitcher — in baseball
  15. charge — electricity
  16. branch — of a tree
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. cue — a hint
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. branch — a division
  21. chair — a leader
  22. charge — a price
  23. deal — a big deal
  24. deal — to handle

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