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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 · content · mug · snap · bear · squash · bulb · press

  1. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  2. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  3. Did you ________________ the button?
  4. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  5. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  6. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  7. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  8. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  9. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  12. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  13. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  14. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  17. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  18. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  19. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  20. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. squash — to crush
  2. bear — the animal
  3. press — to push
  4. branch — of a bank
  5. bear — the animal
  6. squash — the vegetable
  7. snap — to click
  8. snap — to snap out of it
  9. press — a publisher
  10. bulb — for light
  11. content — the amount
  12. branch — of a tree
  13. mug — a cup
  14. snap — to speak sharply
  15. bulb — for light
  16. squash — the sport
  17. content — videos and posts
  18. press — newspapers
  19. branch — a division
  20. bear — to put up with
  21. mug — to rob
  22. mug — a face
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. content — happy

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