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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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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: branch · dip · stand · patient · fine · march · mate · charge

  1. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  2. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  4. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  5. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  6. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  7. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  8. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  9. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  10. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  11. I can't ________________ this cold.
  12. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  13. Have you found your soul ________________?
  14. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  15. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  16. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  17. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  18. The tickets are free of ________________.
  19. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  20. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  21. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  22. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  23. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  24. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. fine — high quality
  3. dip — to dunk
  4. charge — in control
  5. branch — a division
  6. march — the month
  7. patient — calm and waiting
  8. fine — a penalty
  9. patient — a sick person
  10. mate — to breed
  11. stand — to bear
  12. patient — a sick person
  13. mate — a partner
  14. dip — a sauce
  15. mate — a friend
  16. dip — to sink
  17. march — music
  18. charge — a price
  19. branch — of a tree
  20. stand — on your feet
  21. charge — electricity
  22. fine — all right
  23. stand — for spectators
  24. march — the month

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