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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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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: branch · face · press · mark · roll · safe · cabinet · cue

  1. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  3. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  4. We're on a ________________ here.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  7. Did you ________________ the button?
  8. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  12. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  13. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  14. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  15. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. What do you think of the new ________________?
  18. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  19. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  20. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  21. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  22. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  23. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  24. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. mark — to pay attention
  3. roll — a cake
  4. roll — on a roll
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. branch — of a tree
  7. press — to push
  8. press — a publisher
  9. cue — a hint
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. face — to point toward
  12. mark — a trace
  13. cue — a signal
  14. branch — a division
  15. press — newspapers
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. roll — a list
  19. mark — a grade
  20. face — part of the head
  21. cue — for pool
  22. face — to confront
  23. branch — of a bank
  24. cabinet — ministers

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