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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. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  2. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  5. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  6. Have you settled on a ________________?
  7. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  8. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  9. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  10. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  11. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  12. When was this ________________ built?
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  15. What do you think of the new ________________?
  16. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  19. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  20. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  21. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  22. Did you ________________ the button?
  23. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  24. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.

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

Answer key

  1. date — on the calendar
  2. bore — to drill
  3. bound — obliged
  4. bank — for money
  5. branch — of a tree
  6. date — on the calendar
  7. bound — tied together
  8. press — a publisher
  9. bore — gave birth
  10. press — newspapers
  11. cabinet — a cupboard
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. temple — side of the head
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. bank — of a river
  17. bound — certain
  18. bore — to tire
  19. branch — of a bank
  20. date — the fruit
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. press — to push
  23. branch — a division
  24. bank — for money

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