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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 116 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.

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: stick · charge · cabinet · spell · plane · ball · bay · branch

  1. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. What do you think of the new ________________?
  3. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  4. My mare is ________________ in color.
  5. How do you ________________ your surname?
  6. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  7. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  8. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  9. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  10. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  11. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  12. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  13. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  14. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  15. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  16. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  17. The King held a masked ________________.
  18. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  19. The ________________ took off on time.
  20. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  21. The tickets are free of ________________.
  22. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  23. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  24. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. plane — in geometry
  4. bay — a horse colour
  5. spell — letters
  6. plane — a tool
  7. stick — to attach or keep to
  8. ball — a round shape
  9. bay — to keep at bay
  10. charge — in control
  11. cabinet — a cupboard
  12. branch — of a bank
  13. spell — a short time
  14. branch — a division
  15. ball — a great time
  16. stick — a piece of wood
  17. ball — a dance
  18. bay — a part of the sea
  19. plane — an aircraft
  20. spell — magic
  21. charge — a price
  22. charge — electricity
  23. stick — a piece of wood
  24. branch — of a tree

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