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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: hide · hand · branch · toast · squash · mouse · press · board

  1. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  2. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  3. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  4. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  5. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  6. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  7. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  8. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  9. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  10. Did you ________________ the button?
  11. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  12. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  13. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  14. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  15. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  16. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  17. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  18. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  19. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  20. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  21. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  22. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  23. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  24. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.

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

Answer key

  1. squash — to crush
  2. hand — help
  3. hide — to keep secret
  4. mouse — for a computer
  5. branch — a division
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. toast — a drink to someone
  8. branch — of a bank
  9. toast — bread
  10. press — to push
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. hand — part of the body
  13. branch — of a tree
  14. squash — the sport
  15. press — a publisher
  16. squash — the vegetable
  17. press — newspapers
  18. hide — animal skin
  19. toast — the most admired
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. board — a flat piece
  22. board — to get on
  23. hand — in cards
  24. board — a committee

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