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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.

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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: rush · branch · leaves · trunk · charge · pass · wave · date

  1. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  2. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  3. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. Have you settled on a ________________?
  6. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  9. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  10. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  11. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  12. That must've been a ________________.
  13. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  14. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  17. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  18. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  19. The tickets are free of ________________.
  20. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  21. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  22. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  23. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of an elephant
  2. date — the fruit
  3. branch — a division
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. date — on the calendar
  6. branch — of a tree
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. wave — with your hand
  9. branch — of a bank
  10. wave — a sudden rise
  11. rush — to hurry
  12. rush — a thrill
  13. date — on the calendar
  14. trunk — of a tree
  15. rush — hurry
  16. leaves — of a tree
  17. charge — in control
  18. pass — to spend time
  19. charge — a price
  20. wave — of the sea
  21. trunk — of a car
  22. pass — a permit
  23. charge — electricity
  24. pass — to succeed

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