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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: branch · staff · key · object · mouse · press · hide · season

  1. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. Did you ________________ the button?
  3. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  4. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  5. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  6. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  7. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  8. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  9. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  10. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  11. This piece is in a major ________________.
  12. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  13. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  14. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  15. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  16. Did you ________________ the meat?
  17. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  18. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  19. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  20. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  23. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  24. We have nothing to ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. press — to push
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. object — to protest
  5. hide — animal skin
  6. press — a publisher
  7. press — newspapers
  8. season — of the year
  9. object — a thing
  10. branch — a division
  11. key — in music
  12. object — an aim
  13. branch — of a tree
  14. mouse — for a computer
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. season — to add flavour
  17. branch — of a bank
  18. staff — employees
  19. key — for a lock
  20. staff — employees
  21. key — the most important part
  22. staff — a stick
  23. season — in sport
  24. hide — to keep secret

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