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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. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. I can't ________________ this cold.
  4. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  5. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  6. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  9. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  10. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  11. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  12. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  13. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  16. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  21. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. What do you think of the new ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. press — to push
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. stand — to bear
  4. press — newspapers
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. press — a publisher
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. bat — for baseball
  10. stand — for spectators
  11. mouse — for a computer
  12. bat — in an idiom
  13. branch — of a bank
  14. suit — to fit
  15. cabinet — a cupboard
  16. suit — clothes
  17. mug — a cup
  18. mug — to rob
  19. suit — in cards
  20. bat — the animal
  21. branch — a division
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. mug — a face
  24. cabinet — ministers

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