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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 116 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 · current · dip · mark · hand · trunk · saw · stem

  1. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  4. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  5. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  6. She's very handy with a ________________.
  7. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  8. Did you ________________ the button?
  9. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  10. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  17. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  18. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  19. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  22. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  23. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  24. I got dealt a bad ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a tree
  2. mark — a trace
  3. dip — to sink
  4. hand — help
  5. press — newspapers
  6. saw — the tool
  7. trunk — of a car
  8. press — to push
  9. stem — to come from
  10. saw — past of 'see'
  11. saw — the tool
  12. current — happening now
  13. current — of water
  14. stem — a stem cell
  15. mark — a grade
  16. hand — part of the body
  17. dip — to dunk
  18. trunk — of an elephant
  19. stem — of a plant
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. dip — a sauce
  22. press — a publisher
  23. current — electric
  24. hand — in cards

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