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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: toast · arm · mug · calf · sharp · wave · branch · press

  1. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. Where did you ________________ them?
  4. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  5. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  6. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  7. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  8. It's one o'clock ________________.
  9. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  10. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  11. My father caught me by the ________________.
  12. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  13. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  14. Did you ________________ the button?
  15. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  16. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  17. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  18. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  19. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  20. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  21. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  22. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  23. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  24. He refilled his coffee ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. mug — to rob
  4. toast — the most admired
  5. calf — of the leg
  6. branch — a division
  7. arm — part of the body
  8. sharp — exactly
  9. press — a publisher
  10. wave — a sudden rise
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. press — newspapers
  13. wave — with your hand
  14. press — to push
  15. toast — a drink to someone
  16. toast — bread
  17. mug — a face
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. sharp — with an edge
  20. wave — of the sea
  21. sharp — clever
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. arm — a part of something
  24. mug — a cup

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