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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: suit · branch · season · can · toast · press · straw · bear

  1. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  2. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  3. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  4. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  5. Did you ________________ the button?
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  8. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  13. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. Did you ________________ the meat?
  16. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  17. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  20. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  21. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  24. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. toast — a drink to someone
  3. bear — the animal
  4. bear — to put up with
  5. press — to push
  6. can — to be able to
  7. toast — the most admired
  8. press — newspapers
  9. can — a tin
  10. season — in sport
  11. suit — to fit
  12. toast — bread
  13. branch — a division
  14. can — a tin
  15. season — to add flavour
  16. season — of the year
  17. straw — a straw man
  18. suit — in cards
  19. branch — of a bank
  20. straw — dry grass
  21. press — a publisher
  22. suit — clothes
  23. straw — to clutch at straws
  24. bear — the animal

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