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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.

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: pit · row · plane · branch · date · charge · key · temple

  1. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  2. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  3. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  4. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  5. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  6. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  7. The ________________ took off on time.
  8. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  9. When was this ________________ built?
  10. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  11. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  12. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  13. The tickets are free of ________________.
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  18. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  19. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  20. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  21. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  22. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  23. Have you settled on a ________________?
  24. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.

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

Answer key

  1. row — to paddle
  2. key — for a lock
  3. branch — a division
  4. branch — of a bank
  5. charge — in control
  6. date — the fruit
  7. plane — an aircraft
  8. temple — side of the head
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. pit — in a race
  11. charge — electricity
  12. row — a line
  13. charge — a price
  14. key — in music
  15. pit — a hole
  16. key — the most important part
  17. plane — in geometry
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. row — a quarrel
  20. pit — a fruit stone
  21. plane — a tool
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. date — on the calendar
  24. branch — of a tree

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