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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.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: fan · swing · hide · branch · press · mouse · safe · temple

  1. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  2. David sat on the ________________.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  6. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  7. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  8. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  9. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  10. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  11. When was this ________________ built?
  12. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  13. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  14. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  15. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  16. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  17. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  18. Did you ________________ the button?
  19. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  20. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  24. Can you turn the ________________ on?

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. swing — to play on
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. press — a publisher
  6. temple — side of the head
  7. swing — in golf
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. branch — of a bank
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. swing — music
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. hide — animal skin
  15. mouse — for a computer
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. press — to push
  19. branch — a division
  20. press — newspapers
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. fan — to cool the air

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