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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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 · rash · press · charge · bulb · swing · wax · mug

  1. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  2. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  3. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  4. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  8. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  9. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  10. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  13. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  14. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  15. Don't do anything ________________.
  16. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  17. David sat on the ________________.
  18. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  19. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. Did you ________________ the button?
  22. The tickets are free of ________________.
  23. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  24. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a face
  2. rash — a series
  3. swing — music
  4. swing — in golf
  5. bulb — for light
  6. bulb — for light
  7. rash — on the skin
  8. wax — to grow
  9. branch — of a bank
  10. branch — of a tree
  11. mug — to rob
  12. wax — for sculpting
  13. press — a publisher
  14. mug — a cup
  15. rash — hasty
  16. branch — a division
  17. swing — to play on
  18. press — newspapers
  19. charge — in control
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. press — to push
  22. charge — a price
  23. charge — electricity
  24. wax — in the ear

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