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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: safe · bear · leaves · press · can · net · cabinet · branch

  1. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  7. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  8. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  9. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  10. Did you ________________ the button?
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  22. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  23. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. net — after costs
  2. press — newspapers
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. bear — to put up with
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. branch — of a tree
  7. net — in sport
  8. bear — the animal
  9. net — for catching
  10. press — to push
  11. can — a tin
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. press — a publisher
  15. can — to be able to
  16. branch — a division
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. can — a tin
  19. branch — of a bank
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. cabinet — a cupboard
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. bear — the animal
  24. safe — out of danger

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