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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. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  4. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  8. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  9. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  10. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  11. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  14. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  17. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  20. Did you ________________ the button?
  21. My mare is ________________ in color.
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  24. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. can — a tin
  3. toast — a drink to someone
  4. charge — electricity
  5. can — to be able to
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. pitch — completely
  8. pitch — a sales talk
  9. bay — to keep at bay
  10. press — a publisher
  11. press — newspapers
  12. can — a tin
  13. branch — of a tree
  14. pitch — a sports field
  15. charge — a price
  16. lie — to recline
  17. bay — a part of the sea
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. branch — a division
  20. press — to push
  21. bay — a horse colour
  22. toast — bread
  23. charge — in control
  24. toast — the most admired

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