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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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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: staff · mug · bank · jam · saw · file · press · swing

  1. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  2. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  3. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  4. David sat on the ________________.
  5. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  6. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  7. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  8. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  9. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  12. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  13. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  14. Did you ________________ the button?
  15. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  16. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  19. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  20. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  21. He works in a ________________ mill.
  22. She's very handy with a ________________.
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  24. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. jam — a tight spot
  3. press — newspapers
  4. swing — to play on
  5. swing — music
  6. file — a document
  7. jam — in traffic
  8. file — a tool
  9. staff — employees
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. mug — a face
  12. press — a publisher
  13. bank — for money
  14. press — to push
  15. bank — of a river
  16. saw — past of 'see'
  17. mug — a cup
  18. file — a line of people
  19. staff — a stick
  20. swing — in golf
  21. saw — the tool
  22. saw — the tool
  23. mug — to rob
  24. staff — employees

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