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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: press · saw · mouse · lean · jam · branch · date · track

  1. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  3. Have you settled on a ________________?
  4. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  5. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  6. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  7. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  8. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  11. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  12. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  13. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  14. He works in a ________________ mill.
  15. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  16. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  17. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  18. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  19. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  20. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  21. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  22. Did you ________________ the button?
  23. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  24. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. lean — to rest against
  3. date — on the calendar
  4. mouse — for a computer
  5. branch — a division
  6. press — a publisher
  7. jam — in traffic
  8. track — to keep track
  9. saw — the tool
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. jam — a tight spot
  12. track — a path
  13. saw — past of 'see'
  14. saw — the tool
  15. jam — to spread on bread
  16. track — a song
  17. branch — of a bank
  18. lean — thin
  19. date — on the calendar
  20. date — the fruit
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. press — to push
  23. lean — to bend
  24. branch — of a tree

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