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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: sharp · board · fan · leaves · bank · mouse · cabinet · press

  1. What do you think of the new ________________?
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  4. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  5. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  8. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  9. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  10. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  11. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  12. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  16. It's one o'clock ________________.
  17. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  18. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  19. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  20. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  21. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  22. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  23. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  24. Did you ________________ the button?

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. board — a flat piece
  4. press — a publisher
  5. bank — of a river
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. board — a committee
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. sharp — with an edge
  11. cabinet — a cupboard
  12. fan — to cool the air
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. mouse — for a computer
  16. sharp — exactly
  17. press — newspapers
  18. bank — for money
  19. bank — for money
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. board — to get on
  22. sharp — clever
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. press — to push

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