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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 · shower · prune · jam · branch · pit · temple · root

  1. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  2. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  3. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  4. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  5. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  6. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  7. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  8. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  9. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  10. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  11. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  12. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  13. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  14. When was this ________________ built?
  15. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  16. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  17. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  18. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  19. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  20. Did you ________________ the button?
  21. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  22. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  23. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  24. Biology is a ________________ of science.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. prune — the fruit
  3. press — newspapers
  4. branch — of a tree
  5. shower — rain
  6. pit — a hole
  7. jam — a tight spot
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. shower — a meteor shower
  10. jam — in traffic
  11. root — the cause
  12. pit — a fruit stone
  13. pit — in a race
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. root — of a word
  16. prune — to trim
  17. shower — to wash
  18. prune — to trim
  19. press — a publisher
  20. press — to push
  21. temple — side of the head
  22. jam — to spread on bread
  23. root — of a plant
  24. branch — a division

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