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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: temple · jam · lean · charge · tube · wax · branch · spell

  1. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  2. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  3. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  4. How do you ________________ your surname?
  5. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  6. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  7. The tickets are free of ________________.
  8. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  9. When was this ________________ built?
  10. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  11. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  12. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  13. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  14. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  15. I'll be taking the ________________.
  16. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  17. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  18. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  19. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  22. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  23. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  24. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. branch — a division
  3. jam — in traffic
  4. spell — letters
  5. branch — of a tree
  6. jam — a tight spot
  7. charge — a price
  8. lean — to rest against
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. tube — a container
  11. spell — a short time
  12. tube — in a tire
  13. wax — in the ear
  14. charge — electricity
  15. tube — the underground
  16. wax — to grow
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. lean — thin
  19. wax — for sculpting
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. temple — side of the head
  22. spell — magic
  23. lean — to bend
  24. charge — in control

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