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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. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  7. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  8. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  9. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  10. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  11. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  12. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  13. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  14. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  19. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  20. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  21. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  22. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  23. Did you ________________ the button?
  24. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. branch — a division
  3. key — in music
  4. rush — hurry
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. patient — a sick person
  7. bass — the instrument
  8. drill — the tool
  9. patient — a sick person
  10. branch — of a bank
  11. drill — a practice
  12. wound — past of 'wind'
  13. press — a publisher
  14. patient — calm and waiting
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. branch — of a tree
  17. key — the most important part
  18. bass — low music
  19. key — for a lock
  20. drill — army training
  21. bass — the fish
  22. wound — an injury
  23. press — to push
  24. wound — an injury

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