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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
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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: can · cabinet · charge · fan · season · branch · trunk · coach

  1. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. Have you met the new head ________________?
  7. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  8. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  9. Did you ________________ the meat?
  10. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  11. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  12. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  13. The tickets are free of ________________.
  14. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  15. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  16. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  17. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  18. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  19. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  20. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  24. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. trunk — of a tree
  3. can — a tin
  4. can — a tin
  5. can — to be able to
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. cabinet — a cupboard
  8. season — in sport
  9. season — to add flavour
  10. branch — a division
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. coach — pulled by horses
  13. charge — a price
  14. trunk — of a car
  15. fan — to cool the air
  16. branch — of a tree
  17. charge — electricity
  18. trunk — of an elephant
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. branch — of a bank
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. season — of the year
  24. cabinet — ministers

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