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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  4. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  5. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  6. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  7. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  8. What do you think of the new ________________?
  9. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  10. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  11. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  12. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  13. Did you ________________ the button?
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  16. We're on a ________________ here.
  17. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  18. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  19. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  20. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  23. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  24. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. press — newspapers
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. object — to protest
  5. cabinet — a cupboard
  6. lean — to rest against
  7. net — in sport
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. net — for catching
  10. net — after costs
  11. branch — of a tree
  12. branch — a division
  13. press — to push
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. roll — a list
  16. roll — on a roll
  17. lean — to bend
  18. press — a publisher
  19. roll — a cake
  20. lean — thin
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. branch — of a bank
  23. object — a thing
  24. object — an aim

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