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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: deal · can · drill · patient · firm · temple · charge · branch

  1. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  2. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  3. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  4. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  5. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  6. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  7. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  8. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  9. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  10. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  14. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  15. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. The tickets are free of ________________.
  18. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  19. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  20. When was this ________________ built?
  21. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  22. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  23. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  24. Where can I ________________ my mobile?

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. branch — of a bank
  3. deal — to handle
  4. patient — calm and waiting
  5. temple — side of the head
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. firm — steady
  8. drill — army training
  9. drill — a practice
  10. deal — a big deal
  11. can — a tin
  12. can — to be able to
  13. drill — the tool
  14. patient — a sick person
  15. branch — a division
  16. can — a tin
  17. charge — a price
  18. firm — a company
  19. patient — a sick person
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. deal — an agreement
  22. firm — decided
  23. charge — in control
  24. charge — electricity

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