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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: branch · stand · can · hand · perch · press · ruler · suit

  1. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  3. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  4. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. Did you ________________ the button?
  7. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  8. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  9. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  12. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. I can't ________________ this cold.
  19. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  20. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  21. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  22. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  23. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  24. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. branch — of a bank
  3. perch — the fish
  4. stand — for spectators
  5. suit — clothes
  6. press — to push
  7. stand — on your feet
  8. press — a publisher
  9. press — newspapers
  10. suit — in cards
  11. ruler — a monarch
  12. branch — a division
  13. can — to be able to
  14. perch — for a bird
  15. suit — to fit
  16. perch — for a bird
  17. can — a tin
  18. stand — to bear
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. hand — help
  21. hand — part of the body
  22. hand — in cards
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. branch — of a tree

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