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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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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: press · deal · foot · leaves · jam · branch · stick · wake

  1. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  4. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  5. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  6. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  7. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  10. Did you ________________ the button?
  11. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  12. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  13. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  14. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  15. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  16. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  17. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  18. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  19. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  20. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  21. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  22. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  24. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — a trail
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. stick — a piece of wood
  4. branch — a division
  5. jam — a tight spot
  6. jam — in traffic
  7. deal — an agreement
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. stick — a piece of wood
  10. press — to push
  11. jam — to spread on bread
  12. deal — a big deal
  13. branch — of a tree
  14. stick — to attach or keep to
  15. press — newspapers
  16. deal — to handle
  17. branch — of a bank
  18. leaves — lets stay
  19. foot — the bottom
  20. wake — to stop sleeping
  21. foot — part of the body
  22. wake — before a funeral
  23. foot — a measure
  24. press — a publisher

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