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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: branch · ground · press · toast · jam · bound · bay · object

  1. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  2. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  3. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  4. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  5. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  6. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  7. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  8. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  9. My mare is ________________ in color.
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. Did you ________________ the button?
  12. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  13. That was ________________ to happen.
  14. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  15. There's no middle ________________.
  16. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  17. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  18. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  19. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  20. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  21. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  22. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  23. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  24. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — the earth
  2. bay — a part of the sea
  3. object — a thing
  4. toast — a drink to someone
  5. bay — to keep at bay
  6. branch — of a bank
  7. bound — tied together
  8. bound — obliged
  9. bay — a horse colour
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. press — to push
  12. object — an aim
  13. bound — certain
  14. branch — a division
  15. ground — a position
  16. branch — of a tree
  17. toast — the most admired
  18. jam — a tight spot
  19. jam — in traffic
  20. press — a publisher
  21. toast — bread
  22. ground — crushed
  23. object — to protest
  24. press — newspapers

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