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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
468
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 · foot · leaves · jam · cap · cabinet · press · safe

  1. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  2. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  3. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  4. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  5. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  6. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  7. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  14. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  15. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  16. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  17. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  18. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  19. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  20. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  21. Did you ________________ the button?
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  24. The train ________________ at six o'clock.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. press — a publisher
  3. branch — of a tree
  4. foot — a measure
  5. cap — a hat
  6. foot — part of the body
  7. jam — a tight spot
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. cap — a lid
  14. jam — in traffic
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. branch — of a bank
  17. cap — of ice
  18. cabinet — a cupboard
  19. foot — the bottom
  20. branch — a division
  21. press — to push
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. press — newspapers
  24. leaves — to go away

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