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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 120 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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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: pitch · last · bank · stand · charge · bass · key · branch

  1. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  2. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  3. I can't ________________ this cold.
  4. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  5. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  6. This piece is in a major ________________.
  7. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  8. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  9. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  10. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  11. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  12. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  13. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  14. False peace will not ________________.
  15. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  16. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  17. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  18. The tickets are free of ________________.
  19. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  24. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. pitch — completely
  3. stand — to bear
  4. stand — on your feet
  5. bass — the fish
  6. key — in music
  7. bass — low music
  8. last — finally
  9. bass — the instrument
  10. last — final
  11. pitch — a sales talk
  12. bank — for money
  13. bank — for money
  14. last — to go on
  15. bank — of a river
  16. charge — electricity
  17. charge — in control
  18. charge — a price
  19. pitch — a sports field
  20. key — for a lock
  21. branch — of a bank
  22. key — the most important part
  23. branch — a division
  24. stand — for spectators

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