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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. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  2. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  3. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  4. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  5. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  6. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  7. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  8. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  9. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  12. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  13. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  14. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  15. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  16. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  17. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  18. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  19. Have you settled on a ________________?
  20. My father caught me by the ________________.
  21. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  22. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  23. Did you ________________ the button?
  24. Biology is a ________________ of science.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. date — the fruit
  3. mine — an explosive
  4. date — on the calendar
  5. press — a publisher
  6. arm — a part of something
  7. press — newspapers
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. hand — in cards
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. hand — help
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. ruler — a monarch
  14. hide — animal skin
  15. hand — part of the body
  16. mine — for digging
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. branch — of a bank
  19. date — on the calendar
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. mine — belonging to me
  23. press — to push
  24. branch — a division

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