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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: bore · can · press · branch · jam · fan · lie · mouse

  1. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  2. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  3. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  4. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  5. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  6. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  7. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  11. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  14. Did you ________________ the button?
  15. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  16. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  17. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  18. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  19. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  20. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  23. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  24. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — a division
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. press — newspapers
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. jam — to spread on bread
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. can — a tin
  9. can — a tin
  10. bore — to tire
  11. branch — of a bank
  12. can — to be able to
  13. branch — of a tree
  14. press — to push
  15. jam — in traffic
  16. fan — to cool the air
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. bore — to drill
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. bore — gave birth
  21. lie — to recline
  22. jam — a tight spot
  23. mouse — for a computer
  24. press — a publisher

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