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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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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: press · branch · firm · wax · deal · sharp · board · foot

  1. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  3. It's one o'clock ________________.
  4. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  5. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  6. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  7. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  8. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  9. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  10. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  11. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  12. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  13. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  14. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  15. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  16. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  17. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  18. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  19. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  20. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  21. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  22. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  23. Did you ________________ the button?
  24. He's quite ________________, isn't he?

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. branch — a division
  3. sharp — exactly
  4. press — a publisher
  5. foot — part of the body
  6. deal — to handle
  7. deal — an agreement
  8. wax — to grow
  9. firm — steady
  10. board — to get on
  11. board — a committee
  12. sharp — with an edge
  13. firm — decided
  14. wax — for sculpting
  15. foot — a measure
  16. deal — a big deal
  17. branch — of a tree
  18. wax — in the ear
  19. firm — a company
  20. board — a flat piece
  21. foot — the bottom
  22. branch — of a bank
  23. press — to push
  24. sharp — clever

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