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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: press · ruler · rush · mark · branch · deal · wound · bank

  1. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  2. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  3. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  4. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  5. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  6. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  7. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  8. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  9. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  10. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  11. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  12. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  15. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  16. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  17. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. Did you ________________ the button?
  22. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. We ________________ up on opposing sides.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. mark — a grade
  3. deal — to handle
  4. mark — to pay attention
  5. deal — an agreement
  6. bank — for money
  7. mark — a trace
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. wound — an injury
  10. press — newspapers
  11. wound — an injury
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. rush — hurry
  14. bank — of a river
  15. press — a publisher
  16. branch — a division
  17. deal — a big deal
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. branch — of a tree
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. press — to push
  22. bank — for money
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. wound — past of 'wind'

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