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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: pitcher · nail · track · press · pass · lean · branch · tube

  1. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  2. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  3. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  4. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  5. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  6. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  7. I'll be taking the ________________.
  8. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  9. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  14. Did you ________________ the button?
  15. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  16. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  19. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  20. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  21. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  22. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  23. He is an ace ________________.
  24. Fill up this ________________ with water.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — to rest against
  2. lean — thin
  3. tube — a container
  4. press — newspapers
  5. branch — of a tree
  6. nail — on a finger
  7. tube — the underground
  8. track — to keep track
  9. lean — to bend
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. track — a song
  12. pass — a permit
  13. pass — to spend time
  14. press — to push
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. press — a publisher
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. tube — in a tire
  19. track — a path
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. branch — a division
  22. branch — of a bank
  23. pitcher — in baseball
  24. pitcher — a jug

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