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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. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  4. Did you ________________ the button?
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  7. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  10. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  11. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  14. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  17. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  18. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  19. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  22. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  23. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  24. Biology is a ________________ of science.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. root — of a plant
  3. branch — of a bank
  4. press — to push
  5. mug — a cup
  6. net — for catching
  7. mug — a face
  8. mug — to rob
  9. row — a line
  10. branch — of a tree
  11. scale — in music
  12. current — happening now
  13. row — to paddle
  14. net — after costs
  15. current — of water
  16. root — the cause
  17. net — in sport
  18. scale — for weighing
  19. root — of a word
  20. current — electric
  21. press — a publisher
  22. scale — size or range
  23. row — a quarrel
  24. branch — a division

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