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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. Did you ________________ the button?
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  4. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  5. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  10. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  11. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  12. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. Don't do anything ________________.
  15. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  16. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  17. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  18. When will it ________________ you to start?
  19. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  22. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  23. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. press — to push
  2. can — to be able to
  3. track — a song
  4. rash — a series
  5. track — a path
  6. current — of water
  7. track — to keep track
  8. current — electric
  9. branch — of a tree
  10. bank — for money
  11. press — newspapers
  12. bank — for money
  13. current — happening now
  14. rash — hasty
  15. suit — in cards
  16. press — a publisher
  17. suit — clothes
  18. suit — to fit
  19. branch — a division
  20. can — a tin
  21. rash — on the skin
  22. branch — of a bank
  23. bank — of a river
  24. can — a tin

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