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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: charge · cabinet · branch · rule · stem · trunk · board · pit

  1. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  2. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  3. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  4. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  5. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  6. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  7. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  8. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  9. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  10. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  13. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  14. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  15. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  16. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  17. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  18. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  19. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  20. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  21. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  22. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  23. The tickets are free of ________________.
  24. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a tree
  2. rule — a law
  3. board — a flat piece
  4. stem — a stem cell
  5. branch — of a bank
  6. rule — to rule out
  7. cabinet — a cupboard
  8. board — to get on
  9. pit — in a race
  10. stem — of a plant
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. stem — to come from
  13. branch — a division
  14. charge — electricity
  15. charge — in control
  16. trunk — of a car
  17. pit — a hole
  18. board — a committee
  19. trunk — of an elephant
  20. branch — of a tree
  21. pit — a fruit stone
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. charge — a price
  24. rule — government

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