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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 · branch · pop · mate · patient · rash · coach · mug

  1. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  2. You don't need to ________________ round.
  3. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  4. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  5. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  6. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  7. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  8. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  9. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  10. We're almost out of ________________.
  11. Have you found your soul ________________?
  12. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  13. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  14. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  18. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  19. Have you met the new head ________________?
  20. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  21. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  22. Where did you ________________ them?
  23. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  24. Don't do anything ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — a sick person
  2. pop — to visit
  3. rash — a series
  4. mug — a cup
  5. branch — a division
  6. charge — in control
  7. pop — music
  8. branch — of a bank
  9. patient — a sick person
  10. pop — soda
  11. mate — a partner
  12. coach — pulled by horses
  13. mate — to breed
  14. patient — calm and waiting
  15. charge — a price
  16. mug — a face
  17. mate — a friend
  18. charge — electricity
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. branch — of a tree
  21. rash — on the skin
  22. mug — to rob
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. rash — hasty

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