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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: file · fan · toast · stick · can · press · jam · branch

  1. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  4. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  7. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  8. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  9. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  10. Did you ________________ the button?
  11. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  12. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  13. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  14. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  15. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  16. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  17. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  18. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  19. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  22. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — to cool the air
  2. can — to be able to
  3. stick — to attach or keep to
  4. file — a document
  5. can — a tin
  6. toast — a drink to someone
  7. jam — a tight spot
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. toast — bread
  10. press — to push
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. jam — in traffic
  13. stick — a piece of wood
  14. branch — of a bank
  15. file — a line of people
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. press — newspapers
  18. toast — the most admired
  19. branch — of a tree
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. press — a publisher
  22. branch — a division
  23. can — a tin
  24. file — a tool

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