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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.

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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: perch · snap · leaves · charge · rest · branch · track · rock

  1. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  6. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  7. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  8. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  9. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  10. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  11. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  12. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  13. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  14. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  15. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  16. The tickets are free of ________________.
  17. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  18. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  19. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  20. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  21. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  22. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  23. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  24. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — a division
  2. charge — in control
  3. leaves — to go away
  4. rock — a stone
  5. rest — what's left
  6. track — a path
  7. snap — to snap out of it
  8. snap — to speak sharply
  9. rock — music
  10. rest — what's left
  11. track — to keep track
  12. branch — of a bank
  13. track — a song
  14. rock — to move gently
  15. charge — electricity
  16. charge — a price
  17. rest — a break
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. leaves — of a tree
  20. branch — of a tree
  21. leaves — lets stay
  22. snap — to click
  23. perch — for a bird
  24. perch — the fish

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