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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: branch · suit · cap · pass · chip · fan · coach · file

  1. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  2. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  3. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  4. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  9. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  10. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  11. Have you met the new head ________________?
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  14. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  17. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  20. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  23. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  24. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — a division
  2. pass — to succeed
  3. coach — pulled by horses
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. branch — of a tree
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. fan — to cool the air
  9. file — a document
  10. chip — to eat
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. pass — a permit
  13. cap — of ice
  14. cap — a lid
  15. suit — to fit
  16. branch — of a bank
  17. chip — in a computer
  18. suit — in cards
  19. suit — clothes
  20. file — a tool
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. file — a line of people
  23. cap — a hat
  24. chip — for betting

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