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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: roll · mouse · charge · bark · perch · branch · bound · stand

  1. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  2. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  3. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  4. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. We're on a ________________ here.
  7. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  8. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  9. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  10. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  11. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  12. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  13. That was ________________ to happen.
  14. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  15. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  16. I can't ________________ this cold.
  17. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  18. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  19. The tickets are free of ________________.
  20. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  21. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  22. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  23. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. perch — the fish
  3. mouse — for a computer
  4. bark — to shout
  5. bound — obliged
  6. roll — on a roll
  7. bound — tied together
  8. branch — a division
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. bark — a dog's sound
  12. charge — electricity
  13. bound — certain
  14. charge — in control
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. stand — to bear
  17. stand — on your feet
  18. branch — of a tree
  19. charge — a price
  20. roll — a list
  21. bark — of a tree
  22. stand — for spectators
  23. roll — a cake
  24. mouse — the animal

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