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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. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  5. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  6. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  7. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  8. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  9. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  10. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  11. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  12. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  13. Did you ________________ the button?
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  16. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  17. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  18. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  19. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  20. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  21. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  22. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  23. My father caught me by the ________________.
  24. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. mark — to pay attention
  3. mark — a trace
  4. jam — a tight spot
  5. firm — a company
  6. branch — a division
  7. branch — of a bank
  8. jam — in traffic
  9. jam — to spread on bread
  10. prune — to trim
  11. pass — to succeed
  12. pass — to spend time
  13. press — to push
  14. mark — a grade
  15. prune — the fruit
  16. prune — to trim
  17. firm — steady
  18. branch — of a tree
  19. firm — decided
  20. arm — a part of something
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. pass — a permit
  23. arm — part of the body
  24. press — a publisher

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