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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 · jam · can · rock · hide · mug · firm · press

  1. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  2. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  3. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  4. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  5. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  9. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  10. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  11. Did you ________________ the button?
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  14. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  21. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  22. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  23. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  24. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — to move gently
  2. mug — a face
  3. hide — to keep secret
  4. jam — to spread on bread
  5. firm — steady
  6. can — a tin
  7. rock — a stone
  8. press — a publisher
  9. branch — of a tree
  10. rock — music
  11. press — to push
  12. mug — to rob
  13. jam — a tight spot
  14. firm — a company
  15. can — a tin
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. mug — a cup
  18. jam — in traffic
  19. can — to be able to
  20. press — newspapers
  21. hide — animal skin
  22. branch — of a bank
  23. branch — a division
  24. firm — decided

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