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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: can · bank · ball · file · sharp · content · wave · press

  1. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  3. Did you ________________ the button?
  4. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  5. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  6. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  7. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  8. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  9. The King held a masked ________________.
  10. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  11. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  12. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  13. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  14. It's one o'clock ________________.
  15. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  20. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  23. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  24. This knife is not ________________ enough.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. bank — for money
  3. press — to push
  4. file — a document
  5. content — videos and posts
  6. content — happy
  7. file — a line of people
  8. wave — a sudden rise
  9. ball — a dance
  10. bank — for money
  11. content — the amount
  12. wave — of the sea
  13. bank — of a river
  14. sharp — exactly
  15. file — a tool
  16. can — to be able to
  17. ball — a round shape
  18. can — a tin
  19. wave — with your hand
  20. ball — a great time
  21. can — a tin
  22. sharp — clever
  23. press — a publisher
  24. sharp — with an edge

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