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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: last · branch · root · press · plane · row · sharp · jam

  1. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. The ________________ took off on time.
  3. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  4. It's one o'clock ________________.
  5. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  6. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  7. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  8. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  9. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  10. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  11. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  12. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  13. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  14. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  15. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  16. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  17. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  18. Did you ________________ the button?
  19. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  20. False peace will not ________________.
  21. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  22. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  23. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  24. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. plane — an aircraft
  3. press — newspapers
  4. sharp — exactly
  5. plane — a tool
  6. row — a line
  7. branch — of a bank
  8. branch — a division
  9. root — the cause
  10. last — finally
  11. root — of a word
  12. jam — in traffic
  13. jam — a tight spot
  14. sharp — with an edge
  15. row — a quarrel
  16. last — final
  17. sharp — clever
  18. press — to push
  19. branch — of a tree
  20. last — to go on
  21. root — of a plant
  22. jam — to spread on bread
  23. row — to paddle
  24. press — a publisher

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