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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: current · bound · branch · hand · can · press · wave · arm

  1. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  2. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  7. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  8. Did you ________________ the button?
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  11. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  12. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  13. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. My father caught me by the ________________.
  16. That was ________________ to happen.
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  19. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  20. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  21. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  22. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  23. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  24. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — a sudden rise
  2. hand — part of the body
  3. can — to be able to
  4. press — newspapers
  5. current — of water
  6. branch — a division
  7. arm — part of the body
  8. press — to push
  9. can — a tin
  10. wave — of the sea
  11. hand — help
  12. branch — of a tree
  13. bound — obliged
  14. can — a tin
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. bound — certain
  17. bound — tied together
  18. arm — a part of something
  19. hand — in cards
  20. branch — of a bank
  21. press — a publisher
  22. current — happening now
  23. wave — with your hand
  24. current — electric

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