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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: rush · branch · pitcher · press · bore · fork · lean · fan

  1. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  3. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  4. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  5. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  6. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  7. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  8. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  11. He is an ace ________________.
  12. Did you ________________ the button?
  13. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  14. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  15. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  16. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  17. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  20. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  21. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  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. press — newspapers
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. bore — to tire
  4. fork — a garden tool
  5. branch — of a tree
  6. bore — to drill
  7. fork — to eat with
  8. lean — to bend
  9. rush — hurry
  10. lean — thin
  11. pitcher — in baseball
  12. press — to push
  13. branch — a division
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. press — a publisher
  17. branch — of a bank
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. fan — to cool the air
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. lean — to rest against
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. bore — gave birth
  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