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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: bank · tube · fall · jam · temple · snap · charge · branch

  1. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  2. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  3. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  4. When was this ________________ built?
  5. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  6. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  7. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  8. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  9. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  10. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  11. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  12. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  13. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  14. I'll be taking the ________________.
  15. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  16. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  17. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  18. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  19. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  20. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  21. The tickets are free of ________________.
  22. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  23. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  24. Would you like some apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. jam — a tight spot
  3. bank — of a river
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. charge — in control
  6. branch — of a bank
  7. fall — to drop
  8. snap — to speak sharply
  9. jam — in traffic
  10. bank — for money
  11. fall — to drop
  12. snap — to snap out of it
  13. tube — in a tire
  14. tube — the underground
  15. temple — side of the head
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. fall — the season
  18. branch — a division
  19. charge — electricity
  20. tube — a container
  21. charge — a price
  22. bank — for money
  23. snap — to click
  24. jam — to spread on bread

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