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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: leaves · press · fork · pitcher · current · game · suit · branch

  1. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  5. He is an ace ________________.
  6. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  7. That was a fun ________________.
  8. Did you ________________ the button?
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  13. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  14. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  21. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  22. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. press — newspapers
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. game — a kind of play
  5. pitcher — in baseball
  6. branch — of a bank
  7. game — a match
  8. press — to push
  9. current — happening now
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. current — of water
  12. fork — to eat with
  13. fork — in a road
  14. fork — a garden tool
  15. current — electric
  16. branch — of a tree
  17. suit — to fit
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. suit — in cards
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. press — a publisher
  22. branch — a division
  23. suit — clothes
  24. game — wild animals

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