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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. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  5. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  6. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  7. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  11. Have you found your soul ________________?
  12. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  13. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  14. Did you ________________ the button?
  15. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  16. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  17. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  18. Did you ________________ the meat?
  19. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  20. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  23. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  24. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. can — a tin
  3. can — to be able to
  4. fork — a garden tool
  5. season — of the year
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. leaves — lets stay
  8. can — a tin
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. press — a publisher
  11. mate — a partner
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. branch — a division
  14. press — to push
  15. press — newspapers
  16. hide — animal skin
  17. mate — a friend
  18. season — to add flavour
  19. season — in sport
  20. fork — to eat with
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. branch — of a bank
  23. mate — to breed
  24. fork — in a road

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