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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 hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. I can't ________________ this cold.
  3. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  4. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  5. Did you ________________ the button?
  6. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  7. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  8. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  9. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  10. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  13. You don't need to ________________ round.
  14. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  15. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  16. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  17. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  18. We're almost out of ________________.
  19. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  20. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  21. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  22. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  23. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  24. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. stand — to bear
  3. board — a flat piece
  4. branch — of a tree
  5. press — to push
  6. branch — a division
  7. press — newspapers
  8. press — a publisher
  9. pop — music
  10. board — to get on
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. branch — of a bank
  13. pop — to visit
  14. pit — a fruit stone
  15. net — in sport
  16. net — for catching
  17. net — after costs
  18. pop — soda
  19. stand — for spectators
  20. pit — a hole
  21. mark — a grade
  22. board — a committee
  23. stand — on your feet
  24. pit — in a race

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