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

  1. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  2. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  3. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  4. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  7. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  8. It's one o'clock ________________.
  9. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  10. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  11. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  12. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  13. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  14. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  15. Did you ________________ the button?
  16. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  17. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  18. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  19. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  20. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  21. The ________________ market has crashed.
  22. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  23. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. fork — in a road
  3. press — newspapers
  4. march — music
  5. suit — to fit
  6. march — the month
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. sharp — exactly
  9. suit — clothes
  10. fork — to eat with
  11. march — the month
  12. sharp — with an edge
  13. mouse — for a computer
  14. branch — of a bank
  15. press — to push
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. press — a publisher
  18. fork — a garden tool
  19. stock — a soup base
  20. sharp — clever
  21. stock — shares
  22. branch — a division
  23. stock — goods
  24. suit — in cards

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