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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: bank · bark · can · drill · cue · press · trunk · leaves

  1. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  2. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  3. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  6. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  7. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  8. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  9. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  10. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  11. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  12. Did you ________________ the button?
  13. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  14. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  15. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  16. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  19. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  20. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  21. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. cue — a signal
  3. bark — to shout
  4. can — a tin
  5. trunk — of an elephant
  6. press — newspapers
  7. drill — a practice
  8. bank — for money
  9. drill — the tool
  10. leaves — lets stay
  11. cue — a hint
  12. press — to push
  13. bank — of a river
  14. press — a publisher
  15. cue — for pool
  16. leaves — of a tree
  17. can — a tin
  18. trunk — of a car
  19. bark — of a tree
  20. bark — a dog's sound
  21. drill — army training
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. trunk — of a tree
  24. can — to be able to

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