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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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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 · staff · charge · bass · net · nail · dip · mark

  1. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  2. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  3. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  4. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  5. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  6. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  7. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  8. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  9. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  10. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  11. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  12. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  13. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  14. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  15. The ________________ went through the wall.
  16. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  17. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  18. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  19. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  20. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  21. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  22. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  23. The tickets are free of ________________.
  24. She got the top ________________ in the exam.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — on a finger
  2. mark — to pay attention
  3. branch — of a tree
  4. net — in sport
  5. net — for catching
  6. mark — a trace
  7. branch — of a bank
  8. branch — a division
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. bass — the fish
  11. staff — a stick
  12. staff — employees
  13. dip — a sauce
  14. dip — to sink
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. charge — electricity
  17. bass — the instrument
  18. net — after costs
  19. charge — in control
  20. dip — to dunk
  21. staff — employees
  22. bass — low music
  23. charge — a price
  24. mark — a grade

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