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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. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  2. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  3. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  4. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  7. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  8. Did you ________________ the button?
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  11. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  15. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  16. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  21. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  22. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — of a river
  2. rock — music
  3. fork — a garden tool
  4. press — newspapers
  5. rock — a stone
  6. branch — of a bank
  7. bank — for money
  8. press — to push
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. file — a tool
  11. branch — a division
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. branch — of a tree
  15. press — a publisher
  16. file — a document
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. fork — in a road
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. file — a line of people
  21. leaves — lets stay
  22. bank — for money
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. fork — to eat with

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