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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.

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: pass · charge · branch · spell · wax · foot · perch · mine

  1. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  2. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  3. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  6. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  7. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  8. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  9. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  10. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  11. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  12. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  13. How do you ________________ your surname?
  14. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  15. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  16. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  17. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  18. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  19. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  20. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  21. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  22. The tickets are free of ________________.
  23. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  24. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — a measure
  2. branch — of a bank
  3. pass — a permit
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. spell — a short time
  6. pass — to succeed
  7. branch — of a tree
  8. branch — a division
  9. wax — for sculpting
  10. perch — the fish
  11. charge — electricity
  12. perch — for a bird
  13. spell — letters
  14. foot — the bottom
  15. wax — to grow
  16. mine — for digging
  17. charge — in control
  18. mine — an explosive
  19. wax — in the ear
  20. mine — belonging to me
  21. perch — for a bird
  22. charge — a price
  23. foot — part of the body
  24. spell — magic

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