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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 · fan · saw · press · roll · mark · fine · bank

  1. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  5. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  6. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  7. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  8. She's very handy with a ________________.
  9. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  10. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  11. Did you ________________ the button?
  12. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  15. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  16. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  17. We're on a ________________ here.
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. He works in a ________________ mill.
  20. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  21. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  22. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  23. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  24. Can you turn the ________________ on?

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. branch — of a bank
  3. mark — a trace
  4. bank — for money
  5. fine — all right
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. saw — past of 'see'
  8. saw — the tool
  9. branch — of a tree
  10. fine — high quality
  11. press — to push
  12. bank — for money
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. roll — a cake
  15. fine — a penalty
  16. bank — of a river
  17. roll — on a roll
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. saw — the tool
  20. roll — a list
  21. mark — a grade
  22. branch — a division
  23. press — a publisher
  24. fan — to cool the air

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