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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 120 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 · file · mug · bank · key · lash · branch · track

  1. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  2. Where did you ________________ them?
  3. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  4. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  5. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  6. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  7. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  8. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  9. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  10. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  11. Did you ________________ the button?
  12. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  13. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  14. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  17. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  18. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  19. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  22. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  23. This piece is in a major ________________.
  24. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. mug — to rob
  3. file — a line of people
  4. branch — a division
  5. branch — of a bank
  6. bank — for money
  7. bank — for money
  8. lash — to lash out
  9. file — a document
  10. mug — a face
  11. press — to push
  12. key — for a lock
  13. press — a publisher
  14. track — a song
  15. key — the most important part
  16. track — a path
  17. lash — an eyelash
  18. bank — of a river
  19. file — a tool
  20. mug — a cup
  21. lash — a whip stroke
  22. track — to keep track
  23. key — in music
  24. press — newspapers

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