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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 116 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. Where did you ________________ them?
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  4. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  5. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  6. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  7. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  8. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  9. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  10. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  11. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  12. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  13. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  14. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  15. Did you ________________ the button?
  16. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  17. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  18. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  19. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  20. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  21. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  22. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  23. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  24. He was blown up by a land ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — to rob
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. cue — for pool
  4. pitch — completely
  5. bank — for money
  6. cue — a signal
  7. press — newspapers
  8. mug — a face
  9. press — a publisher
  10. branch — of a bank
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. mine — belonging to me
  13. mug — a cup
  14. mine — for digging
  15. press — to push
  16. bank — of a river
  17. cue — a hint
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. calf — of the leg
  20. branch — a division
  21. bank — for money
  22. pitch — a sports field
  23. pitch — a sales talk
  24. mine — an explosive

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