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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  2. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  3. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  4. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  5. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  6. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  7. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  8. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  9. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  10. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  15. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  16. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  17. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  18. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  19. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  20. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  21. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  22. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. stem — to come from
  2. branch — a division
  3. fan — to cool the air
  4. rock — to move gently
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. branch — of a bank
  7. lie — to recline
  8. lash — to lash out
  9. snap — to snap out of it
  10. rock — music
  11. can — a tin
  12. lash — an eyelash
  13. can — a tin
  14. snap — to click
  15. lash — a whip stroke
  16. rock — a stone
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. snap — to speak sharply
  19. branch — of a tree
  20. stem — a stem cell
  21. stem — of a plant
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. can — to be able to

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