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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: fan · calf · bay · pass · lean · charge · branch · bass

  1. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  2. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  3. My mare is ________________ in color.
  4. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  5. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  6. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  7. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  10. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  11. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  14. The tickets are free of ________________.
  15. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  16. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  17. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  18. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  19. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  20. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  21. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  22. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  23. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  24. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. lean — to rest against
  3. bay — a horse colour
  4. lean — to bend
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. calf — of the leg
  7. pass — to spend time
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. bass — low music
  11. bay — to keep at bay
  12. pass — a permit
  13. branch — of a tree
  14. charge — a price
  15. branch — a division
  16. lean — thin
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. bass — the fish
  19. fan — to cool the air
  20. charge — in control
  21. bass — the instrument
  22. charge — electricity
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. bay — a part of the sea

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