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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: firm · bound · root · rush · branch · charge · stand · mate

  1. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  2. I can't ________________ this cold.
  3. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  4. That was ________________ to happen.
  5. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  6. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  7. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  8. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  11. Have you found your soul ________________?
  12. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  15. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  16. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  19. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. The tickets are free of ________________.
  22. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  23. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  24. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — a division
  2. stand — to bear
  3. firm — a company
  4. bound — certain
  5. stand — for spectators
  6. charge — electricity
  7. bound — tied together
  8. mate — a friend
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. root — of a word
  11. mate — a partner
  12. firm — decided
  13. rush — hurry
  14. stand — on your feet
  15. firm — steady
  16. branch — of a tree
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. root — of a plant
  19. branch — of a bank
  20. bound — obliged
  21. charge — a price
  22. mate — to breed
  23. root — the cause
  24. charge — in control

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