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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: fan · press · board · tube · root · mark · prune · branch

  1. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  2. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  3. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  4. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  5. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  6. Did you ________________ the button?
  7. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  8. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  9. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  10. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  13. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  14. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  15. I'll be taking the ________________.
  16. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  17. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  18. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  19. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  20. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  21. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  22. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  23. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. board — to get on
  2. board — a committee
  3. press — a publisher
  4. root — the cause
  5. branch — of a tree
  6. press — to push
  7. press — newspapers
  8. branch — a division
  9. tube — in a tire
  10. root — of a word
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. tube — a container
  13. root — of a plant
  14. fan — to cool the air
  15. tube — the underground
  16. mark — a trace
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. prune — to trim
  19. prune — to trim
  20. mark — a grade
  21. branch — of a bank
  22. prune — the fruit
  23. board — a flat piece
  24. mark — to pay attention

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