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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
468
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: pass · mark · bowl · branch · bulb · club · press · march

  1. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  2. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  3. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  4. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  7. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  8. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  9. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  10. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  11. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  12. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  13. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  14. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  15. Did you ________________ the button?
  16. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  24. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.

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

Answer key

  1. club — a group
  2. march — music
  3. press — newspapers
  4. branch — a division
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. press — a publisher
  7. bowl — a football final
  8. club — for dancing
  9. mark — a trace
  10. mark — a grade
  11. branch — of a tree
  12. march — the month
  13. branch — of a bank
  14. club — for golf
  15. press — to push
  16. bowl — to roll
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. pass — to spend time
  19. bulb — for light
  20. bowl — a dish
  21. bulb — for light
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. pass — a permit
  24. march — the month

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