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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 116 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. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  4. It's one o'clock ________________.
  5. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  6. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  9. Did you ________________ the button?
  10. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  17. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  18. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  19. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  20. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  21. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  22. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  23. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — in cards
  2. press — newspapers
  3. spring — of water
  4. sharp — exactly
  5. spring — the season
  6. sharp — with an edge
  7. suit — to fit
  8. bank — of a river
  9. press — to push
  10. mark — to pay attention
  11. rush — hurry
  12. sharp — clever
  13. mark — a grade
  14. spring — a coil
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. bank — for money
  17. branch — of a bank
  18. mark — a trace
  19. suit — clothes
  20. bank — for money
  21. press — a publisher
  22. branch — of a tree
  23. branch — a division
  24. rush — to hurry

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